Holman Library Starts a New Chapter
Feature by Tina (Napper) Tebbe ‘08
From the hushed corners of the basement to the quiet bustle on the main floor and
the silent studying spots upstairs, Holman Library has stood as a beacon for Bearcats looking for a place to quietly study, find important
resources and do their research since 1969. Now, following the completion of the second
floor’s renovations, the library has become one of the best places for everyone in
the campus community to study, learn and grow.
A Labor of Love from the Campus Community
Holman’s renovations began in November 2021 when students and staff began the process
of moving the second floor’s books, shelves and furniture into the library’s basement.
Construction began in March with Daryl Hancock, vice president of operations, acting
as McKendree’s liaison and overall orchestrator of the affair. Finally, the furniture
was delivered and a great majority of the technology was installed just in time for
the start of the fall 2022 semester. Renovations for this 6,100 square foot space
were made possible through the generous contributions from our donors to the FORWARD Campaign.
“We wanted to transform the library into a modern, technology-rich space, and the
best place to approach that was the upper floor with its beautiful lighting and minimally-used
space,” Daryl said. “We saw that many students shifted away from doing research through
books and chose sources on the Internet instead. The idea was to make this space more
flexible and student friendly, and our campus community helped us achieve this goal.”
During the renovation process, students, faculty and staff were invited to take a
look at the prospective furnishings, carpeting and color schemes and give their opinions.
Their voices were heard when a poll was set up in Ames Dining Hall, allowing everyone
to pick their favorites. Visitors can see the result of this vote whenever they stop
by the second floor of Holman: new slate-colored carpet, plenty of versatile seating
options, movable furniture, canned lighting and, of course, beautiful plum chairs.
From Hush-Hush to Bustling and Robust
If you were to venture upstairs prior to the renovations, you might find a student
or two perusing the storied shelves for a book or huddled in a quiet corner to study
or draft outlines for their papers. Now, the upstairs, while still holding the typical
hushed tones of any library, has seen a huge increase in foot traffic during the fall
semester, according to Debbie (Miller) Houk ’91, director of Holman Library. “After
we reopened the second floor, everyone has been using the area. Our numbers are what
we were pre-COVID. We have not been busy like this since 2020!”
In addition to providing a quiet, comfortable space for studying and researching,
the second floor has played host to a myriad of events on campus. Already in the fall
semester, faculty members presented their research in the campus’s second annual faculty
showcase, and students from the Honors Program have given their presentations to a
captivated audience. Faculty members have also elected to hold some classes in the
new and updated Dilliard-Dorris Family Conference & Learning Center, which houses
a 169-inch television, a podium with outlets for power and several USB outlets.
“The upper floor of the library was just used for studying or conducting research
in the past. Now, you can hold meetings, conferences, in-person and remote classes
and committee meetings. It has truly become a much more accessible and productive
space for the campus community.” - Daryl Hancock
In addition to the learning center, Holman now has four unique spaces that the campus
community can use. The Allison Cassens Learning & Conference Center Annex was a gift
made in memory of Allison Cassens, an educator and daughter of former Board member,
Allen Cassens, and current Board member, Linda Cassens. This room will soon be outfitted
with microphones, cameras and computers that will control interface for virtual meetings.
“I really enjoy the Presidential Leadership Gallery. I love seeing the portraits on
the wall – it’s probably my favorite space on the second floor!” - Debbie (Miller)
Houk '91
The education and technology office, which is located in the northeast corner of the
second floor, serves as an excellent resource for faculty and staff to ask questions
about IT and more. The Lucille Sudol Study Area & Lounge was made possible by an estate
gift made through the Trust of long-time library benefactor and friend to the University,
Lucille Sudol. Finally, the Presidential Portrait Gallery, a space by the stained-glass
window, recognizes and honors the University’s past presidents and shares their stories.
Irving Dilliard and Mary Sue Schusky
Honoring the Past, Investing in the Future
Mary Sue Schusky is a devoted friend of McKendree, and her personal connection to
the University spans almost four decades. Her professional career as a teacher and
librarian provided her the opportunity to spend many hours in the library, which is
what connected her to McKendree and Holman Library. However, her family history goes
back to more than 100 years ago when her grandparents, Charles Dorris and Susie May
Peach Dorris, attended McKendree, graduating in 1892 and 1893, respectively.
The family connection continues and even strengthens the McKendree relationship with
her father, Irving Dilliard, a University of Illinois graduate who always held small,
private liberal arts schools in high esteem. An editorial page editor at the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch, Irving strongly supported the Bill of Rights and was a defender against
social injustices. His expertise in the U.S. Supreme Court was legendary, and his
personal library contained one of the finest collections of books on the Court in
the country. He retired in 1960, but then went on to a 10-year career as a professor
at Princeton University, during which he lectured at universities throughout the United
States and in Europe, including teaching one-month courses at McKendree. He had a
great love for libraries, which is what connected him to McKendree.
Like her father did before her, Mary Sue carried forward her campaign support of the
renovation of Holman Library with outright gifts herself. One of the areas benefiting
from the philanthropy of the Dilliard and Schusky families is the recently dedicated
Dilliard-Dorris Learning and Conference Center. This beautiful, expansive, and technology-rich
space, which is located in the southwest corner on the second floor in Holman Library,
features a 169-inch television, a podium with outlets for power and plenty of USB
outlets, making it a useful, intuitive and modern space that students, faculty and
staff alike can employ throughout the academic year. Because of these gifts, the campus
community now has a space in which they may hold in-person and virtual conferences,
teach classes in an updated setting, and assist McKendree students to learn and grow.
“My family and I are so pleased with the recent additions and enhancements to the
second floor of Holman Library. The Dilliard – Dorris Family Learning and Conference
Center is truly a wonderful tribute to my McKendree alumni grandpar ents and my father.
I know they all would be proud of their investment in the current and future students
of the University.” - Mary Sue Schusky
