In 1926 a new building was built specifically for the library and it was named “Forsyth” after Brevet Brigadier General George Alexander Forsyth. General Forsyth had been stationed at Fort Hays in the 1880s. When the library was dedicated on July 10, 1928, Forsyth Library contained 14,000 volumes. This collection sustained major damage when the flood of May 1951 flooded the first floor of the library with 16 inches of water. When the library moved to its present location the original building was renamed and still stands as McCartney Hall.
The present building was completed in 1967 at a cost of $1,192,321, with one-third of the funds supplied by the Federal Government. It encompassed 105,414 square feet with an unfinished basement, two floors, and a structural capacity for a future third floor. The basement level of the building was finished at a cost of $384,000 in 1974.
In 2017 Forsyth Library housed 506,746 volumes in the physical collection as well as 279,866 electronic books available online.
-
Preliminary Specifications of materials and labor to be used in erection and completion of Library Building Fort Hays Kansas State College
Woods & Starr Associates
A full estimate from Woods and Starr Architects detailing the specifications for construction of a new library building for Forsyth Library.
-
Specifications of materials and labor to be used in erection and completion of Forsyth Library
Woods & Starr Associates
A document detailing preliminary specifications for construction of a new building for Forsyth Library.
-
Fort Hays Kansas State College Library building estimation
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
A document containing figures estimating the cost of building a furnishing a new building for Forsyth Library. This document is an updated version of the same document from April 24, 1963.
-
Fort Hays Kansas State College Library building estimation
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
A document containing figures estimating the cost of building a furnishing a new building for Forsyth Library.
-
Fort Hays Kansas State College Forsyth Library Leaflet - No. 1
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
An informational brochure detailing library policies and services available at Forsyth Library.
-
Fort Hays Kansas State College Forsyth Library Leaflet - No. 2
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
An informational brochure giving instruction on how to use the card catalog at Forsyth Library.
-
Fort Hays Kansas State College Forsyth Library Leaflet - No. 3
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
An informational brochure giving instruction on how to use the magazine indexes at Forsyth Library.
-
Fort Hays Kansas State College Forsyth Library Leaflet - No. 4
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
An informational brochure giving instruction on how to find information about authors.
-
Fort Hays Kansas State College Forsyth Library Leaflet - No. 5
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
An informational brochure giving instruction on how to use the reserve book room at Forsyth Library.
-
Fort Hays Kansas State College Forsyth Library Leaflet - No. 6
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
An informational brochure giving instruction on how to find book reviews. This guide also contains a floor plan for Forsyth Library.