Left to right: Library dedication conference materials, including programs and parking pass; letter to library staff from Director of Libraries Stephen A. McCarthy. University Archives.
Sir Frank Francis, the Director and Principal Librarian of the British Museum, delivered the principal address at the formal dedication ceremony on October 9, 1962. The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Eugene Ormandy, joined the Cornell Glee Club and the University Chorus for a concert featuring the works of Beethoven. Additionally, 150 librarians and faculty from around the nation participated in a two-day conference, “New Directions for the University Library.”