Keyes Metcalf
Encyclopedia
Keyes DeWitt Metcalf was an American librarian
. He has been identified as one of the 100 most important leaders in librarianship by the journal American Libraries
. In a career spanning over 75 years, he worked in various roles at the New York Public Library
and served as the director of the Harvard University library
system. He was known for his expertise in planning and designing research libraries.
Metcalf’s experience in libraries began when he was thirteen years old, when he worked for at the Oberlin College
library. His brother-in-law, Azariah Root, was the librarian. Here, he was taught how to organize the shelves and process new orders that came to the library. Despite being promised pay at five cents an hour, Metcalf was never paid for his efforts. He says about this oversight, “I’m inclined to believe that absent-mindedness on my employer’s part, rather than poor work on mine, was why I was never paid…but I never ventured to complain.” Regardless of why he wasn’t paid, Metcalf greatly enjoyed what he did and he knew he had found his life’s work in librarianship.
After graduating high school, Metcalf attended Oberlin, once again working in the library under Root’s tutelage. It was during this period that Metcalf assisted in the opening of a new library at Oberlin, an experience that would help him later in life as he planned new libraries at Harvard. After the facility was completed, Metcalf was charged with coordinating the move of the stacks to the new building. While moving books into the library, Metcalf acted as the building’s security guard, setting up an elaborate system of stacked books in strategic locations to detect intruders. After graduating in 1911, Metcalf was accepted into the New York Public Library’s Library School. He graduated from the school in 1915.
, the university's main library, would run out of space in a few short years. In addition, the collection was so immense and the catalog so complex, it was often difficult to find materials. Metcalf recalled stories of students who were proud of the fact that they never had to use the library. Metcalf’s mandate was to design a system that would meet the space needs of the library until the end of the twentieth century. The plan he came up with in 1938 was what he called “coordinated decentralization.” While recognizing that decentralizing library services wasn’t the ideal solution, he also realized that Harvard, with 76 individual collections or facilities, already was very decentralized. He became convinced that students could be well served by separate libraries, as long as each building was organized around a single topic or, in some cases, audience. To realize this plan, he proposed the construction of new facilities, including the Houghton Library
for rare books in 1942, and the Lamont Library, a library designed for the needs of undergraduates in 1949. The construction of Lamont succeeded in addressing a major complaint of the university’s undergraduate population – they couldn’t easily find materials in Widener because of the sheer volume, or they would find that some materials were reserved for graduate students and inaccessible to undergraduates. He also expanded interlibrary cooperatives. Besides building new facilities, he also proposed splitting up Widener’s collection to libraries focused on the subject matter of the material.
When planning these new facilities, Metcalf was concerned about the security of the collection – damage to manuscripts and books from variations in heat and humidity, or worst of all, damage from a flood. In the case of Houghton, the building that was to house the rare collections at Harvard, many features were designed into the air conditioning and plumbing systems that were meant to mitigate the risk of damage. Catch basins were installed under any pipe running horizontally to catch and divert any water from leaks. The plumbing system itself was designed so that the location of leaks could be found quickly through a series of shut-off valves, and the walls were designed with easy access to plumbing. The display cases themselves were designed so that they were well ventilated. This allowed lighting to be installed in the cases (rather than outside) without impacting the temperature and humidity levels. It was features like these that helped keep the collections safe.
Metcalf’s experience at Harvard made he and his staff experts in the problems that were facing many research libraries at the time. Metcalf was often called on to consult with other libraries. Harvard became the benchmark for solutions to these problems. Metcalf consulted on the libraries for the Army and Navy, and in 1942 was asked to chair a study of the University of Illinois Library School.
During this time, Metcalf was also active in the American Library Association
. He served as its president in 1942 and 1943. His participation in the ALA may have contributed to Metcalf being among the first of Harvard’s staff to be targeted by Senator Joseph McCarthy
in his search for communists. As chair of the ALA’s International Relations Board, Metcalf was asked to participate on a government committee that selected books to be included in US libraries abroad. McCarthy sought information from Metcalf on whether he had approved of the selection of a book written by Howard Fast
, a Communist. If he had, would he approve it again? In his response to McCarthy, Metcalf endorsed freedom of information in all libraries, including those managed by the government, and stated plainly that if the opportunity arose, he would select Fast’s book again. McCarthy never responded.
After 17 years of service, Metcalf retired in 1955 and was named Director Emeritus
.
. Over the span of his career, he received many awards and honoraria, including 13 honorary doctorate degrees.
Metcalf also worked as a consultant in the planning stages of what is today the Harold B. Lee Library
at Brigham Young University
and Hillman Library
at the University of Pittsburgh
.
Keyes Metcalf died of a heart attack on November 3, 1983 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 94 years old.
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
. He has been identified as one of the 100 most important leaders in librarianship by the journal American Libraries
American Libraries
American Libraries is the official news and features magazine of the American Library Association. Published six times per year, along with four additional digital-only supplements, it is distributed to all members of the organization...
. In a career spanning over 75 years, he worked in various roles at the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
and served as the director of the Harvard University library
Harvard University Library
The Harvard University Library system comprises about 90 libraries, with more than 16 million volumes. It is the oldest library system in the United States, the largest academic and the largest private library system in the world...
system. He was known for his expertise in planning and designing research libraries.
Early Life and Education
Keyes Metcalf was born on April 13, 1889 in Elyria, Ohio, the son of Issacs Stevens Metcalf and Harriet Metcalf. Both of his parents died when he was very young and his sister, Marion, raised him. Among the values he learned growing up was an important emphasis on education. It was expected that he would, at least, earn an undergraduate degree. Growing up, his sister put together a family newsletter, and everyone was expected to contribute. Metcalf’s love of reading resulted in his contributions oftentimes being reviews of books he was reading.Metcalf’s experience in libraries began when he was thirteen years old, when he worked for at the Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
library. His brother-in-law, Azariah Root, was the librarian. Here, he was taught how to organize the shelves and process new orders that came to the library. Despite being promised pay at five cents an hour, Metcalf was never paid for his efforts. He says about this oversight, “I’m inclined to believe that absent-mindedness on my employer’s part, rather than poor work on mine, was why I was never paid…but I never ventured to complain.” Regardless of why he wasn’t paid, Metcalf greatly enjoyed what he did and he knew he had found his life’s work in librarianship.
After graduating high school, Metcalf attended Oberlin, once again working in the library under Root’s tutelage. It was during this period that Metcalf assisted in the opening of a new library at Oberlin, an experience that would help him later in life as he planned new libraries at Harvard. After the facility was completed, Metcalf was charged with coordinating the move of the stacks to the new building. While moving books into the library, Metcalf acted as the building’s security guard, setting up an elaborate system of stacked books in strategic locations to detect intruders. After graduating in 1911, Metcalf was accepted into the New York Public Library’s Library School. He graduated from the school in 1915.
New York Public Library
While still in the library school, he began working in the stacks of the New York Public Library. This began a relationship that would last for over a quarter of a century. While working at the library, he served in many capacities, including the Chief of Stacks for three years and Assistant to the Director starting in 1919. Ultimately, in 1928 Metcalf was appointed Chief of the Reference Department. This was a position he would hold for the next ten years. While at the New York Public Library, he became interested in the use of technology in the library, when he expanded the use of the first photostat machine to the library in 1912. This innovation made the copying of documents significantly easier. He also introduced a microfilm system to the library. His goal here was primarily to save certain books from damage from heavy use. (Metcalf 1980: 279) Metcalf considered these contributions to be the things he was most proud of in his years at the New York Public Library.Harvard University
In 1937, Metcalf was appointed Director of University Libraries at Harvard. His tenure at Harvard was where he made a significant impact to librarianship. Early on, he encountered a problem that would face many libraries – a lack of adequate space. Widener LibraryWidener Library
The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, commonly known as Widener Library, is the primary building of the library system of Harvard University. Located on the south side of Harvard Yard directly across from Memorial Church, Widener serves as the centerpiece of the 15.6 million-volume Harvard...
, the university's main library, would run out of space in a few short years. In addition, the collection was so immense and the catalog so complex, it was often difficult to find materials. Metcalf recalled stories of students who were proud of the fact that they never had to use the library. Metcalf’s mandate was to design a system that would meet the space needs of the library until the end of the twentieth century. The plan he came up with in 1938 was what he called “coordinated decentralization.” While recognizing that decentralizing library services wasn’t the ideal solution, he also realized that Harvard, with 76 individual collections or facilities, already was very decentralized. He became convinced that students could be well served by separate libraries, as long as each building was organized around a single topic or, in some cases, audience. To realize this plan, he proposed the construction of new facilities, including the Houghton Library
Houghton Library
Houghton Library is the primary repository for rare books and manuscripts at Harvard University. It is part of the Harvard College Library within the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Houghton is located on the south side of Harvard Yard, next to Widener Library.- History :Harvard's first...
for rare books in 1942, and the Lamont Library, a library designed for the needs of undergraduates in 1949. The construction of Lamont succeeded in addressing a major complaint of the university’s undergraduate population – they couldn’t easily find materials in Widener because of the sheer volume, or they would find that some materials were reserved for graduate students and inaccessible to undergraduates. He also expanded interlibrary cooperatives. Besides building new facilities, he also proposed splitting up Widener’s collection to libraries focused on the subject matter of the material.
When planning these new facilities, Metcalf was concerned about the security of the collection – damage to manuscripts and books from variations in heat and humidity, or worst of all, damage from a flood. In the case of Houghton, the building that was to house the rare collections at Harvard, many features were designed into the air conditioning and plumbing systems that were meant to mitigate the risk of damage. Catch basins were installed under any pipe running horizontally to catch and divert any water from leaks. The plumbing system itself was designed so that the location of leaks could be found quickly through a series of shut-off valves, and the walls were designed with easy access to plumbing. The display cases themselves were designed so that they were well ventilated. This allowed lighting to be installed in the cases (rather than outside) without impacting the temperature and humidity levels. It was features like these that helped keep the collections safe.
Metcalf’s experience at Harvard made he and his staff experts in the problems that were facing many research libraries at the time. Metcalf was often called on to consult with other libraries. Harvard became the benchmark for solutions to these problems. Metcalf consulted on the libraries for the Army and Navy, and in 1942 was asked to chair a study of the University of Illinois Library School.
During this time, Metcalf was also active in the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
. He served as its president in 1942 and 1943. His participation in the ALA may have contributed to Metcalf being among the first of Harvard’s staff to be targeted by Senator Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
in his search for communists. As chair of the ALA’s International Relations Board, Metcalf was asked to participate on a government committee that selected books to be included in US libraries abroad. McCarthy sought information from Metcalf on whether he had approved of the selection of a book written by Howard Fast
Howard Fast
Howard Melvin Fast was an American novelist and television writer. Fast also wrote under the pen names E. V. Cunningham and Walter Ericson.-Early life:Fast was born in New York City...
, a Communist. If he had, would he approve it again? In his response to McCarthy, Metcalf endorsed freedom of information in all libraries, including those managed by the government, and stated plainly that if the opportunity arose, he would select Fast’s book again. McCarthy never responded.
After 17 years of service, Metcalf retired in 1955 and was named Director Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
.
Activities in Retirement
Metcalf continued to be active in librarianship throughout his retirement. Based on his experiences in redesigning the Harvard Library System and other research libraries, he wrote the book “Planning Academic and Research Library Buildings” in 1965. This book is widely regarded as the most comprehensive work on the topic. He taught classes and seminars, including a stint as an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers UniversityRutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. Over the span of his career, he received many awards and honoraria, including 13 honorary doctorate degrees.
Metcalf also worked as a consultant in the planning stages of what is today the Harold B. Lee Library
Harold B. Lee Library
The Harold B. Lee Library , located in Provo, Utah, is the main academic library of Brigham Young University, the largest religious and second-largest private university in the United States. The library has approximately of shelving for the more than 6 million items in its various collections, as...
at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
and Hillman Library
Hillman Library
Hillman Library is the largest library and the center of administration for the University Library System of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
Keyes Metcalf died of a heart attack on November 3, 1983 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 94 years old.