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.
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Forsyth Library Copyright and Intellectual Property Center brochure
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays State University
An informational brochure for the Forsyth Library Copyright and Intellectual Property Center.
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Forsyth Library Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives, Forsyth Library, Fort Hays State University
A document containing information on Forsyth Library Special Collections and Archives.
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Fort Hays State University Centennial Celebration Forsyth Library Commemoration
Fort Hays State University
A program from the 2002 Forsyth Library Commemoration as part of the Fort Hays State University Centennial Celebration.
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Forsyth Library Commemoration program
Fort Hays State University
A program from the Forsyth Library Commemoration of October 6, 2001 in honor of the 75th anniversary of Forsyth Library as a Federal Depository
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Innovative Interspace, Inc. estimate for library window treatments
Innovative Interspace, Inc.
An estimate from Innovative Interspace, Inc. of Hays, Kansas for window treatments at Forsyth Library.
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Forsyth Library Study - Office & Special Collections Area Partial Main Floor Plan
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays State University
A partial floor plan for the main floor at Forsyth Library.
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Forsyth Library Study - Preliminary Cost Estimates
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays State University
A preliminary cost estimate for updates to the Forsyth Library building in October, 1988.
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Forsyth Library Study - Supplementary Instruction Lab Partial Basement Floor Plan
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays State University
A partial floor plan for the Forsyth Library basement
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Forsyth Library Study - Supplementary Instruction Lab cost estimates
Eric King
A memo from Eric King to Karen Cole regarding cost estimates for a Supplementary Instruction Lab located in the basement of Forsyth Library.
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Open House for the Ethnic Studies Collection Room program
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays State University
A program from an October 1985 open house for the Ethnic Studies Collection Room at Forsyth Library.