by Anne Cantrell, MSU News Service
Montana State University’s Renne Library – the building that houses the MSU Library – is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, marking three-quarters of a century of helping Montana State students succeed. A number of events will observe the milestone.
Located in the center of campus, Renne Library sees more than 20,000 visits in a typical week, making it one of the university’s most used buildings. The library’s services touch all academic disciplines and are an important part of MSU’s dedication to its students’ academic success, according to Doralyn Rossmann, MSU Library dean.
“Today’s library is a place to find what you expect and to encounter things that will surprise you,” Rossmann said. “You can expect great books, quiet spaces and knowledgeable librarians. You will be surprised to encounter noisy, collaborative spaces, innovative checkouts like GoPro cameras, bike locks and Wi-Fi hots spots, and support for navigating ethical uses of artificial intelligence, support for research and data management and assistance in making textbooks and publications freely open and accessible through library grants and digital repositories.”
Although the MSU Library has been serving students since the university’s founding in 1893, Renne Library was Montana State’s first dedicated library building. Construction began in 1949, and the building opened Jan. 9, 1950. Rossmann noted that Renne Library started with a modest 8,895 square feet, but renovations throughout the years have transformed it into a four-story, 112,000-square-foot building.
“The beauty of libraries over the last 75 years is that they continually adapt and excel by supporting people’s needs in today’s information environment, while simultaneously preserving the historical record for future generations,” Rossmann said.
MSU photo by Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
Before Renne Library
As early as 1893, funds were allocated to acquire library books for what was then known as the Agricultural College of the State of Montana. By 1897, the campus library had its first physical space on the first floor of Montana Hall, which had just been built, serving the approximately 220 enrolled students.
By 1949, the library had expanded to the second, third and basement floors of Montana Hall. Books were also stored in department libraries in Morrill Hall, the biology building and the chemistry building, with overflow books stored in Quonset huts and a horse barn.
The original library building
The areas that were part of the building that opened in 1950 are now administrative offices, Archives and Special Collections, and the Research Alliance. By 1960, the building was at capacity, so construction began on an addition, which is the part of the building that most patrons now use. By 1961, the first floor of the addition was accessible and in use. The second and third floors opened in 1967, and the fourth floor was completed between 1969 and 1977. In 1978, the building was dedicated to Roland R. Renne, who served as MSU’s sixth president from 1943 to 1964.
Renovations
Significant renovations were undertaken between 2000 and 2004. The third floor – which previously had an open floor that looked down on the first-floor atrium – was filled in, adding new study spaces, and a decorative fountain was added. The study area and the third floor of the old building were renovated into a finished space. The first-floor atrium was transformed into additional reading and study space and Brewed Awakening, the library’s coffee shop, opened.
Renne Library today
Today, the Renne Library has seating for nearly 1,000 people and sees about 4,000 visitors daily during the school year. In addition, the MSU Library offers services such as e-books, audio books, journal articles, streaming services, research guides, “Ask a Librarian” to get personal library assistance and online access to library resources from anywhere on or off campus. The library also houses various offices, such as the University Information Technology Service Desk, SmartyCats Tutoring and the Research Alliance, of which the MSU Library is a member.
Anniversary celebrations
To celebrate 75 years of the Renne Library building, members of the MSU and Bozeman communities are invited to events throughout 2025. Things will kick off with the MSU Library Open House on Monday, January 13th, from 3–6pm. The Old Hollywood-themed event will feature food and beverages, a cash bar, door prizes, music by Woodsmoke Jazz and information about services offered by MSU Library and its partners. Event sponsors include the MSU Library, Friends of MSU Library and the MSU provost’s office. RSVPs are not required.
Future events will include the third annual spring break tea party, the annual Trout and Salmonid Lecture in the fall, and a library birthday party with MSU students. More information about these events and the 75th anniversary of Renne Library is available HERE. •
