At the request of Wikoff, President Edison Oberholtzer relocated the library to its own space by converting the high school's music room.

After Houston Junior College became the University of Houston in 1934, and moved to its current location in 1939, the library was housed in the Roy G. Cullen building; UH's first permanent building.

Hugh Roy Cullen and Leopold Meyer donated enough money to add 6,000 more volumes to the library before it was moved into the new building.

The new wing was built as a front entrance to the library, along with the John O'Quinn Atrium, and a 24-hour lounge area.

The university hired James Sanborn, of Kryptos fame, to build a sculpture for the library.

The sculpture, entitled A,A, was erected in front of the library in June 2004.