[1] It is located on the southern side of the Arts Quad, directly adjacent to Uris Library and McGraw Tower.

By the 1950s, Cornell's main University Library (now called Uris Library) could no longer accommodate the university's collections, with books being stored in the adjacent clocktower, McGraw Tower.

[2] Olin Library was built on the site of Boardman Hall, which was torn down in 1958-9.

[3] Charles H. Warner of Warner, Burns, Toan & Lunde designed the building as a massive seven story edifice, with open research spaces on the first floor and private work areas and cavernous stacks on the upper floors.

[4] Stone pillars and retaining walls flank the exterior of the first floor.