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MARSHFIELD – An Open House rededicating the Hamilton Roddis Memorial Library at the UW-Marshfield/Wood County campus will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10.  Refreshments will be served.

The open house, hosted by the University Commission: UW-Marshfield/Wood County will begin with a 5 p.m. ceremony featuring speakers from campus administration, the commission, and Augusta Roddis, daughter of the late Hamilton Roddis for whom the library was named.

“My staff and I are extremely pleased with our new library,” said Ruth Elderbrook, library director.  “The new layout has created a bright and inviting environment in which our patrons can come in to study or relax while reading a newspaper or periodical.”

Construction for the $500,000 library renovation project was finished in August.  The last of the new furnishings were installed in late January. Total construction cost for the project was about $300,000, with contributions from the city of Marshfield, Wood County and an anonymous donor.  The state of Wisconsin funded technology and furniture costs, bringing the total cost to $500,000.

“For 40 years, the UW-Marshfield/Wood County campus has represented a unique and valuable partnership involving the city, county, state and private sectors,” Keogh said. “The renovation of the library further exemplifies the strength and importance of this beneficial relationship.”

The library has been virtually untouched since it was constructed in 1971 as part of the Helen Connor Laird Fine Arts Building.  The facility was completely refurbished to create an environment which incorporates state-of-the-art technology necessary for electronic research and learning. It includes a teaching lab, where students and faculty can upgrade their research skills; The Learning Center, which focuses on building and enhancing classroom skills; and small study areas where students can work together on team and group projects. 

“Our new teaching lab is a tremendous asset for us as we will be able to teach our basic library research skills as requested by campus professors, right in the library,” Elderbrook said.  “The closer proximity to library staff will also benefit the students as research questions arise while they use the computers on a daily basis.”

The Hamilton Roddis Memorial Library honors the late Hamilton Roddis, who served as secretary, president and chairman of the board of the Roddis Plywood Corp., now Marshfield Door Systems Inc., for more than 60 years.

In the family history that Augusta Roddis wrote for “The Marshfield Story: 1972-1997,” she describes her father as “an avid student of history” who owned an extensive private library filled with classical and historical works. Hamilton Roddis established his namesake foundation in 1952 “so his family could continue his religious, educational and charitable benefaction.”  He died in 1960.