Willem Roelf Henderikus Koops, LLM (1925–2024)

Willem Roelf Henderikus Koops was appointed one year after Bouma’s death. He was the first to appoint academic staff members in the library and he managed to increase the library’s budget for new acquisitions significantly, which allowed gaps in the collection to be filled. Many classic titles that had not been purchased when they were published due to a lack of money were now bought after all. A big challenge for Koops was the state of the library building. He decided a new one was needed and in 1966 drafted a programme of requirements. Its execution remained a dream, however. A temporary solution was achieved by incorporating several buildings nearby. When eventually all parties agreed on a new building, there was a difference of opinion on the right location for the new university library. The City of Groningen and the Board of the University advocated the existing location on Broer Square. This was made possible by tearing down the Martinus Church. Work began in 1982. The new University Library — designed by architect prof. ir P.H. Tauber — was officially opened on 20 May 1987. Koops retired in late 1990. Until his death in 2024 he remained involved with ‘his’ library, for example by regularly donating books, mainly on the subject of art history.