Governor Mel Carnahan addresses the large crowd gathered in the circulation area of the rotunda.

Years of planning, two and a half years of construction and one month of moving finally cumulated in the dedication of the James C. Kirkpatrick library on March 24, 1999.

The first floor circulation area and rotunda were packed with hundreds of people who had come to hear the dedicatory comments of keynote speaker Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan. Other prominent guests included Lt. Governor Roger Wilson, Secretary of State Rebecca Cook, State Librarian Sarah Parker, Commissioner of Higher Education Kala Stroup, and Doris Kirkpatrick.

Music and Irish themes were heavily featured throughout the ceremony. The future site of the New Books and Best Sellers collections hosted instead the University Concert Band, which under the direction of Drs. Patrick Casey, L. Russell Coleman, and David Stagg filled the first floor and rotunda area with music, frequently favoring Irish and folk tunes. After introductory comments, the audience was treated to a world premier performance of the "Kirkpatrick Fanfare," composed by Dr. Andrew Boysen, Jr. for this event. In the Celtic tradition of ensuring good luck to a new venture, two pipers from the Caledonian Pipe Band wandered through the rotunda area playing music.

After the ceremony, guests were invited to walk around the new facility, either in a self-guided tour or in one of numerous tour groups led by library faculty and staff.

Doris Kirkpatrick signs the dedicatory book.	A piper from the Caledonian Pipe Band ensures good luck to the new venture.
The building's 165 external windows are tinted to reduce glare. The light filtering fiberglass mesh blinds are tied into a central computerized system which automatically lowers the blinds when high light levels and/or excessive heat is detected. The second floor rotunda area features comfortable soft seating for study.	Doris Kirkpatrick in the relocated James C. Kirkpatrick Room on the second floor.
Dean Pal Rao gives Governor Mel & Jean Carnahan a tour of the new library.	The third floor reading room offersairy open spaces. All of the study carrels are wired with lighting and electrical outlets, and some have ethernet connections for laptop access to the internet. The building contains nine miles of cable!
The third floor reading room offers airy open spaces. All of the study carrels are wired with lighting and electrical outlets, and some have ethernet connections for laptop access to the internet. The building contains nine miles of cable!