Nature Boy photos taken in January: Top 2009.
Bottom left 2010. Bottom right 2009.
Holland Library was built between 1948 and 1950, and was named after the former Washington State College President Ernest O. Holland. Designed by John Maloney, Holland Library was one of the first buildings to be constructed with modern functional architecture. Maloney also designed other buildings on campus such as Todd Hall, Compton Union Building, and Johnson Tower.
The Library's most distinctive detail is a 30-foot high statue on the West side, near the original main entrance. This statue was designed by Seattle artist Dudley Pratt, and officially named "The Reader." It was carved in Bedford, Indiana, the source of the limestone used on this and several other campus buildings, especially Todd Hall and Smith Gym. The statue has long been known informally as "Nature Boy." The name will be recognized by popular music fans as a famous song recorded by Nat King Cole in 1948.
