University of Virginia Library

Library Expert Recommends
New Underground Facility

By ANN BROWN

Keyes D. Metcalf, Librarian Emeritus
of Harvard University, recently issued a
report to University Vice President and
Provost, David A. Shannon on proposed
expansion of the existing facilities.

In his report, Mr. Metcalf, called in by
the University as a consultant, advised
against current plans to put a new
undergraduate library in Clarke Hall when
the Law School moves to its new
location. He stressed that available space
in Alderman Library is being rapidly
filled and that there is "already a serious
shortage in seating accommodations."

But early in the report, he stated,
"The land areas immediately to the south
and west of Alderman Library, including
the present site of Miller Hall (Peabody
Annex) and going back as far west as
practicable, should be reserved for future
library expansion. I recommend that in or
on this area there be constructed an
Undergraduate Library, a Rare Book and
Manuscript Library, and in due course an
addition to the west of the Alderman
Library."

Mr. Metcalf advised that placing either
an undergraduate or a rare book facility
in Clarke Hall would be unsatisfactory
both because the location is too far from
Alderman Library and because the cost of
either project would be prohibitive.

He continued, "If they can be cared
for immediately adjacent to Alderman,
the undergraduates will get better service.
They will not avoid a large amount of
duplication which would be required if
their library were placed as far away from
Alderman and Clarke Hall. A building
planned for an Undergraduate Library
should be so planned that the staff could
be held to a minimum..."

Mr. Metcalf proposed that the new
undergraduate facility be built
underground directly in front of
Alderman "using the area under the green
extending south in front of Miller Hall

and as much farther as is required." He
recommended that architectural plans
provide approximately 90,000 square feet
for a two level structure with a central
court.

He estimated that a facility of this size
would be large enough to accommodate an
undergraduate population of 6,000. It
would provide space for the seating of
one third of those students, service space
and shelves for 160,000 books.

Mr. Metcalf stated that neither Clarke
Hall nor Monroe Hall, the current
graduate school for business
administration, would be suitable for the
rare book and manuscript collections
because neither has the atmospheric
conditions required by those materials.