Carlson served as university librarian from 1945 to 1965. He began advocating for a new library in the early 1950s, and the Oregon legislature approved the building in 1961. On September 5, 1963, Carlson led a procession of library staff and students, each carrying a few volumes, into the new building, where the books were placed on the shelves in call number order.
Lucy M. Lewis was the University Librarian from 1920-1945. During her 25 years, Lewis established the Friends of the Library and helped Oregon State College become the second land grant institution in the nation. The library's classification system was changed from Dewey Decimal to Library of Congress.
