King Library

King Library is the main library of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The largest of four libraries on the Oxford campus, it serves as the primary library facility and center of administration for the Miami University Libraries system. Currently, King Library is home to the Walter Havighurst Special Collections, Miami University Archives, Western College for Women Archives, the Center for Information Management (CIM), Government Information & Law collection, Instructional Materials Center (IMC), Center for Digital Scholarship, Technical Services, Access Services, Libraries Systems, senior administrative offices, and the Libraries' Preservation/Conservation Lab. King also serves as home to the Howe Center for Writing Excellence, as well as the King Cafe Coffee Shop.King was extensively renovated through a three-phase rehabilitation project, beginning in the late 1990s and ending in 2007.Originally built to be a central library facility with subject areas divided up by levels. By 1978, the Brill Science Library was added to the west wing of Hughes Hall, and science collections were transferred there to accommodate an ever-expanding collection.HistoryIn the early 1900s, the site of King Library was held by Hepburn Hall, a residence building for women. The shortage of housing forced some women to live in the attic about the third floor. Because some of the lights were defective, some residents had to strike matches to find their way and it was rumored that some women used the attic as a smoking lounge. Due to these circumstances, a major fire burned down Hepburn Hall on January 14, 1908.King Library was originally known as the King Undergraduate Library when the south section was completed in 1966. When the north section was completed in 1972, the word “undergraduate” was dropped from its name. Before King Library was built, Alumni Library was used as the main university library. When King Library was completed in 1972, Alumni Library was changed to Alumni Hall.