The Renne Library celebrates 75 years serving campus

It is not every day a campus icon hits a milestone, but this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Roland R. Renne Library.

Until 1949, the library was located on the second floor of Montana Hall. Since the opening of the new building in late December 1949 it has been a focal point on campus, serving approximately 20,000 visitors each week, according to its website. 

“[We] officially moved in December of 1949, but we always say 1950 was the birthdate of the library,” Dean of the Library Doralyn Rossmann said.

On Oct. 1 from noon to 2 p.m., the library staff will transform the annual fall book giveaway into a birthday party. Members of the MSU community can stop by to pick up a book and grab a cupcake, according to instruction librarian Star Bradley. 

“I think the fun thing is we’re giving everyone a present for our birthday because that's what we like to do,” she said. “We’re here to serve you guys.”

Bradley has been collecting used books to give away at the celebration. The goal, she said, is to give out 650 books to students.

“This year, what I'm looking for is I want the books to be pretty,” she said. “Because it's our birthday party and we’re giving gifts, I want the books to be in good shape and be nice books. I don’t want them to just be paperbacks that are falling apart.”

“My goal is for every single person who gets a book to find something that speaks to them,” she said.

According to Bradley, her primary job is to help students navigate the library’s resources.

“I really enjoy interacting with students, helping them find what they need and giving them the tools they need to continue doing research in the future,” she said. “Even after you walk away, we are still thinking about your question and I have definitely emailed students hours — days — later and been like ‘I found something else for you here.’” 

Her favorite memory of the library? A surprise silent disco party. 

“I have no idea [what year] this was, but I was downstairs by the front desk one day, and a group of students came in as a flash mob with headphones on, and did silent disco in the lobby, and then turned around and walked out,” she said “It was spectacular.”

Rossmann also spoke about why she likes hosting book giveaways.

“So glad that we are able to celebrate the fact that we all can read what we can't," Rossmann said when asked about the book giveaway. 

She acknowledged that students can sometimes get burnt out from only reading books for school. “Sometimes reading something else is a nice thing, even if you have to wait until the summertime to do it.”

Rossmann said working at the library excites her because every day looks different. “We’re in the heart of the campus, we’re right in the center, and I truly feel like everybody feels like the library belongs to them, and it does,” she said. “It belongs to everybody.”

For more information on library events, visit https://www.lib.montana.edu/about/news-and-events/. 

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that the fall book giveaway will occur on Oct. 1 from noon to 2 p.m.