Allen Library

The Allen Library was dedicated in 1991. It holds more than a million volumes, houses the university's Natural Sciences Library, Manuscripts, Special Collections, University Archives , and administrative offices. Designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes, it is named for Kenneth S. Allen, associate director of libraries from 1960 to 1982.

Allen's son Paul, cofounder of Microsoft, donated $10 million in his father's name, of which $8 million supports a permanent endowment for the library. The library contains 25 miles of shelving space and was built with about 400,000 bricks.

Central Campus Tour