![\"Union](\"http:\/\/davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org\/aroundthed\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2009\/02\/unionl.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span>The libraries remained separate for over twenty years, until Philanthropic and Eumenean Societies decided to merge their libraries with Davidson’s and create the Union Library.\u00a0 On January 20, 1887, students banded together to move books from the society halls and into the library.\u00a0 Freshmen and sophomores were in charge of moving the books from the halls to the Union Library, while juniors and seniors put them on the correct shelves.\u00a0 With only about 10,000 volumes to move and the short distance, this transition took less than a day.\nWith the expanding number of volumes, the Union Library quickly grew too small for all its books.\u00a0 In 1910, most of the books were moved to the newly built Carnegie Library (now the site of the Carnegie Guest House).\u00a0 By the time Dr. Chalmers Davidson became the head of the library in 1936, Davidson College had around 40,000 volumes to its name.<\/p>\n
In 1941, the much larger Grey Memorial Library was completed (now the site of the Sloan Music Building).\u00a0 Dr. Davidson writes that it was “a warm October 1, 1941” and “the books from Carnegie Library were moved by a ‘living chain’ of students and faculty…each member took pride in doing his part” to pass the books hand by hand.<\/p>\n
The day was not about forced labor, as it was declared a holiday free from classes, and music and food was provided for the workers.\u00a0 A ball game was even broadcast over a loudspeaker to keep the chain entertained.\u00a0 This living chain became known as the “Bucket-book Brigade” of Davidson College.
\nThe Grey Memorial Library was much bigger than the Carnegie Library, and a new wing was even added to increase the capacity to over 180,000, but Davidson simply acquired too many books.<\/p>\n