[LIB3719]The building followed the basic design of the Carnegie libraries throughout the northeast. Note the names of famous writers carved along the upper part just under the roof. Many patrons remember the glass balcony in the main part of the library, which also was part of many Carnegie libraries. The building is currently used as a dormitory for Union College.[Thanks to I Spy in Schenectady www.mvls.info/ispy/schenectady/sch_site03_hist.html]
The "old" library is located at Union and Seward Streets. The land was bought with a $15,000 gift from General Electric. The building itself was funded by a $50,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie. It was opened on October 6, 1903. At the time there was concern that it was so far out of town that people would not be able to get there and it might even be unsafe. 
Since its founding in 1795, the Union College library has been housed in various places on campus. Throughout the nineteenth century, its resources were supplemented by those of a number of College literary societies, whose materials were eventually were incorporated into the general library collection. From 1903 until 1961 when the current building was completed, the central library was located in the Nott Memorial. In the summer of 1961, the books were transferred to what is now known as Schaffer Library. The building has recently been transformed with the completion of a major expansion and renovation project. [SOURCE] [LIB1912] Union College Website
A beautiful night photograph taken by vanstermonster,
found on FLICKR. [SOURCE]
