Things really began to press forward when President Rod Kelchner was named president in 1983. He had long opposed  the state’s plans to demolish the building and now was in a better position  to take the necessary steps to save it. He spent many hours lobbying in Harrisburg to save the building, obtaining the necessary funding, and helping to determine that the building become a library.

Other key players in the preservation of North Hall were Library Director Dr. Larry Nesbitt,and Bill Yost, vice president for administration and finance. In 1984, the general assembly appropriated $6 million funding for the renovation project.  State Representative Fred Noye, MU class of ’68, was influential in persuading the general assembly to appropriate the funds. The original plan was to renovate the structure into a student center. Later it was determined that North Hall would better serve as a library. However, it was a long time before the funds were actually released. The battle to save North Hall was a long and difficult one.