The Grand Reading Room – Then and Now
Written by: Ben Atterberry

The next time you study in Ellis Library’s Reading Room, take a moment to look around. The room may feel familiar, but it looked strikingly different when Ellis Library opened in 1915: unfinished, dimly lit, and open on one side to the rest of the building. According to the University Libraries’ Ellis Old and New page, the room was not finished when the library opened. A 1914 photograph shows it still being put together, with light fixtures on one side lacking the glass globes found on fixtures elsewhere in the room. The coffered ceiling was left plain white at the time, and it stayed that way until the room was freshened up in 2003 – nearly 90 years after the room first opened the ceiling and wall details were finally painted. 

The room was also initially more open to the rest of the library. In a 1915 photograph looking south, no partition separates the room from the hallway; students at the tables could see straight past the columns into what used to be the Delivery Room, where a card catalog was used to request and pick up books. That sightline doesn’t exist anymore. A partition now closes off the gap between the columns, though the archive doesn’t specify exactly when it went up. The old Delivery Room itself was turned into Room 213, a space built in the late 1990s that now houses the library’s Electronic Classroom. At the time, that was the extent of the second floor – there were no east stacks, and the connecting reading room where the cast gallery is now didn’t exist. 

In 1936 a second, connected reading room (now room 202) was added to the Grand Reading Room almost doubling the size of the space. The room’s purpose shifted over the decades: the architect’s 1936 plan shows a desk near the West Stacks doors where books could be requested, and by 1955 the room served as the Reserved Book Reading Room. These changes are easy to miss on a normal walk through the library. To help visitors explore Ellis Library’s past and present, University Libraries maintain a Now and Then Photographs guide, pairing historical images with photos of the same spots today. So, on your next study session, picture the room as it looked in 1915: unfinished, partly lit, and open to the hallway. The quiet space students know now took decades to take shape and included one very delayed paint job. 

Explore more: 

• 1915 Library – Ellis Old and New – Library Guides at University of Missouri Libraries 

• General Reading Room – Ellis Pictures Now and Then – Library Guides at University of Missouri Libraries 

Written by: Mekenzie Moffet

Ellis Library isn’t just books – there are many people who can help you, but it can sometimes be confusing to know who to ask. Below is a quick guide to finding the right person!

Peer Navigators

Peer Navigators are a great place to start because we can point you in the right direction—even if that’s another person who can fully answer your question. We can help you find locations throughout the library and assist with basic technology tasks, such as:

• Directions both inside the library or across campus
• Fixing common printer problems
• Downloading the printer software so you can print from your own computer
• Finding scanners, computers, study spaces, and other library resources
• Searching the catalog for books and where to find the call number

Circulation Desk

The North and West service desks, also called the Circulation Desk, can help you:

• Find and check out books
• Return or renew library materials
• Ask questions about your library account
• Checking out equipment like phone chargers, video cameras, or self care and sensory kits

Subject Librarians

Subject librarians are your go-to people for research help. They specialize in different academic subjects and can help you:

• Find reliable sources for assignments
• Navigate library databases and tech tools like research AI
• Develop or narrow down a research topic and create better search terms
• Find materials related to your major or class
• Find specialty information like legal policy, data, or statistics

Writing Center

The Writing Center, located in Ellis Library Room 115, can help during any stage of the writing process. You do not need to have a complete draft before making an appointment! They can help with:

• Brainstorming and organizing ideas
• Developing a thesis
• Revising drafts
• Improving citations
• Working through writer’s block

Digital Media and Innovation Lab

The Digital Media and Innovation Lab can help with creative and media-based projects. This may include:

• Recording or editing audio and video
• Using media equipment and software
• Working on podcasts, presentations, or other digital projects
• Learning how to use unfamiliar creative technology

IT Help

For more complicated problems, such as your computer crashing or other high-tech issues, you will need help from IT. Divisions of IT staff are sometimes available at the desk on the first floor next to printer station 3A–D, which is surrounded by “Help Station” posters.

• Bring anything technological to them

If you are ever unsure about who to ask, don’t be afraid to start with a Peer Navigator. Even if we cannot solve the entire problem ourselves, we can help you find the person who can!