Plans for a new College Library are substantially completed, but construction hinges on the success of the College’s fund-raising efforts.

Provost Ellsworth Carlson remarked that the crucial factor in determining when construction will begin “is going to be our capacity for contract some major gifts.” The College trustees have approved the general plan for the library, but will not give the final go-ahead until money is found. Carlson estimated the cost of the building at $10 to $11 million, but this figure could be affected by a variety of factors, notably construction bids.

Plans for space utilization in Carnegie Library after the new facility is completed are tentative. The Oberlin Public Library will probably remain in the building. At least some of the stacks may continue to be used for storage of delayed retrieval materials. Competition for remaining space in Carnegie would be heated, since many College offices and departments appear eager to use the available storage space.

Plans for the new library, to be located in Wilder Bowl, were drawn up by the architectural firm of Warner, Burns, Toan and Lunde of New York, and include four floors and an A-level, or semi-basement.

A large reading room, the reference collation, a bibliography room and a documents reference room will be located on the main floor, in addition to various rooms and offices designed for administrative functions.

Book stacks will be located chiefly on the upper three floors, grouped around a central lounge and study area. On the fourth floor, this central area becomes a courtyard, surrounded by the rare book collection and reading room and an audio-visual center including special rooms for graphics, photography and related pursuits. The college archives, presently in Wosworth Hall, will also be housed there. Individual study sections supplementing the large reading rooms and lounge located on each end of the library levels are scattered throughout the stacks.