Bok Releases Pusey Library Model

President Bok released a model of the Nathan M. Pusey Library last week after a series of delays apparently brought on by worries that the library would look out of place in the Yard.

But the $8 million library's final design should soothe even the most tradition-minded alumni: it looks more like a raised grassy platform than a major new addition to the University library system.

The three-level library will be completely underground except for the top nine feet of its upper level, and a surrounding mound will conceal the above ground portion.

The library will be located between Lamont and Houghton Libraries and the former President's house at 17 Quincy Street. It will house collections now contained in Houghton, Widener and Lamont Libraries, and will be connected by underground passageways to all three libraries.

Bok was originally slated to approve the library plans February 20, but he decided to delay his approval a week because, he said, "We want to consider aesthetic as well as functional aspects of the plans." He approved the plans on February 27, and showed them to the Corporation the following week for its approval.

The Overseers informally approved the plans last Monday, and Bok finally released photographs of architect Hugh Stubbins's model of the library.

Bok's concern with the preserving the beauty of the Yard apparently also motivated another proposed plan, now under study by the Planning Office, that would ban all vehicular traffic from the Yard, and use electric carts instead. The carts would be "an efficient and pleasant way of performing the present functions of cars and trucks," Bok said.