George A. Smathers Libraries History Library West
Smathers Library (Library East) 1925+	Libraries were part of the University of Florida campus when it moved to Gainesville in 1906. Library collections came from each of the four schools that were integrated into the Gainesville campus along with school equipment and faculty. In particular, the Florida Agricultural College in Lake City contributed the largest collection. The first UF libraries included a Main Library and an Agricultural Library. Other libraries developed over the early years, including a Botanical Library (1909), Chemistry-Pharmacy Library (1923), Education Library (1911/12), Engineering Library (1912/13), Law Library (1909), Museum Library (Florida Museum of Natural History, 1919/20), Physics Library (1909), and Zoological Library (1909). The Main Library, like the others, occupied rooms in various buildings on campus until the first library building was opened in 1925. This building still exists as the southern portion of the Smathers Library (Library East).
Library West 1967	Various libraries developed within subject areas all over campus; however, the Main Library and Agricultural Library remained the largest and primary libraries. Although collection growth was helped by having these smaller specialized library collections, the humanities and social sciences collections in the Main Library continued to expand. In addition, new library departments and their increased staff added to the space burden of the Main Library. In 1950 the Main Library was enlarged, adding the northern portion to what we now know as the Smathers Library (Library East). Our one millionth book was acquired in 1963. In 1967 the University's second library building was opened. It was designated the Graduate Research Library (Library West) and the original library was designated the Undergraduate Library (Smathers Library / Library East).
Library West 2003	These names and functions were modified in 1970 so that one became Library West (Research Library) and one Library East (College Library). This was a concept popular in the 1960s and 1970s; however, it was a somewhat artifical seperation of services and over the years this practice was unceremoniously dropped and the collections reintegrated into a single collection for both graduates and undergraduates. Collections continued to grow at an accelerated pace and the two millionth book was acquired in 1979. Library East received a major renovation during 1994-98 and renamed Smathers Library in recognition of the donor (George A. Smathers) who funded the renovation work. The three millionth book was acquired in 1993.
Library West During Renovation	As the four millionth book was acquired in 2003, an increasing number of books, journals, and microforms had to be placed in remote storage locations because of a lack of space. Despite the advent of the electronic publication world, print books and journals continued to increase and to be an essential part of our library resources. There were now nine library buildings on campus, inlcuding five large buildings: Library West for the humanities and social sciences collections, Smathers Library for the special collections and most of the administrative offices, Marston Science Library for the sciences/engineering/agriculture collections, Health Science Center Library for the medical collection, and the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center for the law collection. Despite this, space was at a premium with Library West experiencing the most difficulty. This was resolved when the University earmarked funds to renovate and enlarge the exsisting Library West building. In December 2003 Library West was closed so both renovation and construction could begin. The newly renovated and enlarged Library West opened in Summer 2006.
	Library West 2006
History by Vernon N. Kisling, Jr.

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