Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2007 - (Page 39)

Another part of the 1929 renovation was an increased emphasis on special collections. The special collections housed at Linderman have been a draw for students and faculty over the years, and the newly added climate controls will allow these rare books to be better preserved. Linderman has two types of special collections: individual rare books and scholarly concentrations of important materials. “We have a lot of books on ornithology, and in terms of single rare books, John James Audubon’s four-volume Birds of America is one of only 120 in the world intact,” Lois Fischer Black, curator of special collections, says. “A lot of our rare books are about things that are very important to the history of bridge building and design.” Other highlights include travel books and literature, as well as Charles Darwin’s proof copy of The Origin of the Species. my primary use of the library. Thank goodness after the renovations, those three or four spots are still there!” Holly M. Kent, a Ph.D. candidate who has also worked for Library and Technology Services, wholeheartedly agrees with Lule’s assessment. “In addition to the impressive resources that Linderman has, it is a great space to work in—everything from cubicles tucked away in quiet corners, to big comfortable couches and chairs to lounge in, to group study rooms with whiteboards and seminar tables,” she says. “Linderman has been a useful ‘home away from home’ for me to come to, to study and write in.” That’s been true for many others through the years. “There are so many distractions in our world, and Linderman enhanced my ability to focus at that time,” recalls Ken Woodcock ’65, who made the generous donation to name the stunning Kenneth R. Woodcock 1965 Rotunda. “I could have LAURA LINDERMAN ‘95 A Home Away from Home In addition to the beautiful historical architecture of Linderman, it was important to preserve the special study alcoves that so many Lehigh students and professors frequented. Students and faculty members have gone to Linderman throughout its history to immerse themselves in complex problems, mathematical formulas, reﬂection, and study. “I will tell you the truth: The way I use Linderman most is as a refuge,” says Jack Lule, professor of journalism and communication. “It is just a wonderful and peaceful space. Right from the very beginning, I would go there to be there—to read and do my work. I found three or four different spots in the library where I could get my work done and found it to be a wonderful space to work and think. And to this day, it is still gone through the mechanical engineering program in a black box, but I chose to do it in the extreme beauty of Linderman.” Scheler had a similar experience. “As a freshman , I was a regular in the main reading room. Distracted by friends and overtures to leave Linderman early, I moved deep in the basement,” he says. “There were a handful of seats in some obscure places, so I would hide away there.” Throughout the renovation process, preservation of the things that have made Linderman special to so many remained a driving force. “Many times, as different ideas were thrown out, Tony Corallo, associate vice president of facilities services and campus planning at Lehigh, and the architects from MGA Partners in Philadelphia would say, ‘You have to let the building speak for itself—you can’t compete with it,’” Taggart says. fall 2007 39 c To me, Linderman Library is more than just a beautiful building. For my father, John Linderman ’59, and the rest of my family, it is our namesake and we are proud to be part of its rich history. As the great, great, great granddaughter of Lucy Packer Linderman, it was an honor and privilege to study under her roof and be the ﬁrst Linderman woman to graduate from Lehigh. When I was a student at Lehigh, Linderman Library was a home away from home. I majored in political science, but also minored in creative writing. Linderman was a place I often wrote and found inspiration for my stories. I also worked in the Rare Books Room, which is today still one of my favorite places on campus. Many students never knew this room existed, unless they got lost trying to navigate the irrational layout of hallways and stacks in the pre-renovated building. Today, the newly renovated library allows students to explore all the hidden gems of Linderman effortlessly. As a member of the Advisory Project Committee, I had the privilege of watching the renovation unfold step by step, from demolition to reconstruction and ﬁnal renovation. The architects’ respect for marrying the historical eras of the original 1878 building and the 1929 addition, while folding in the necessary modern upgrades of today, is a remarkable feat. For me, watching the rotunda be restored to its original grandeur was the most awesome part of my experience with this project. Linderman’s location has always put it in the center of campus life and even in its outdated state, students still congregated to its historic aura. Now it’s even more comfortable and beautiful than before, and the addition of classrooms will truly make Linderman a home for the humanities. I hope we will see many more Linderman women study within its great walls. c My Linderman red winged blackbird

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Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2007

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