Heber J. Grant Building
Built in 1925
Heber J. Grant Building: Where We Began (1925)
BYU’s library began modestly in the office of Principal Karl G. Maeser, built primarily through donations and free government materials. This early collection was tragically lost in the 1884 fire that destroyed the Lewis Building. By 1892, with the completion of the Education Building, a new library was established on its second floor. As Brigham Young Academy grew in stature and became Brigham Young University in 1903, the library expanded too, claiming more space, including part of the third floor, to house its growing collection.
By the early 1920s, the rapid accumulation of books and pamphlets made it clear that a dedicated library building was essential. In July 1924, the university announced that $125,000 had been allocated for a new facility on University Hill. Construction soon began, and on October 15, 1925, the Heber J. Grant Library was officially dedicated.
At its opening, the library housed 40,000 books and 35,000 pamphlets, marking a significant leap in the university’s academic resources. Named in honor of the LDS Church President who had supported the school and personally donated many volumes, the library symbolized BYU’s growing commitment to scholarship and higher education.
Heber J. Grant was born in 1856 in Salt Lake City, when Utah was still a territory. Deeply During his presidency, Grant became an influential figure in both church and education. He served on the Board of Trustees for Brigham Young University and donated hundreds of books to the school’s growing collection, explaining the cost as merely “cigar money", a reflection of his personal commitment to the Word of Wisdom and temperance.
Grant’s lasting legacy at BYU included helping plan and fund a much-needed library, which was ultimately named in his honor. Though others lobbied to name the building after educator Alice Louise Reynolds, Grant's leadership, book donations, and influence as church president made him the chosen namesake. He remained a key figure in LDS and educational history until his death in 1945.
Heber J. Grant Building: Where We Are Now
This building, originally the Heber J. Grant Library, was dedicated in 1925 as part of the university’s three-day Semi-Centennial celebration.
In 1982, the building began to house the University Testing Center. The Testing administers 35,000 tests every finals week.
Exams written by professors are provided in the Testing Center and made available to students at appropriate times during the semester. Generally, students have three days in which to take the exam. Multiple choice exams are taken on computer trans paper and graded immediately, with the students receiving their scores within fifteen to thirty seconds.