How well do you know . . . your library's history?

The SPU Library has a rich and fascinating history, having been located in four different buildings still currently on campus.

Building History:

University Librarians

There have been over 14 SPU University Librarians. Here are a few highlights:

• Margaret Bursell (1937-1965) - The second full-time University Librarian, Margaret Bursell served as head of the SPU Library for 28 years. She saw the library through significant growth and reorganization, with one of her final accomplishments as Head Librarian being the library's move into Weter Memorial Hall in 1963.
• Gary Fick (1988-1996) - Under his leadership, the current SPU Library was built and moved into in 1994, and several fundamental conversions were initiated and completed: from the Dewey Decimal System to the Library of Congress Classification System; from a card to an online catalog; from only print periodical indexes to online databases; from unsecure collections to an electronic security system for all library materials. He is now the Librarian for the Sciences and Psychology.
• Bryce Nelson (2005-present) - He oversaw the re-establishment of the library's current periodicals reading room, where his Thursday Food For Thought program takes place. Here, campus authors read from their publications. Most recently, he started the Friends of the Library, SPU Library's new endowment program.

Ye Olde Library Photographs

Click each image to view in full-size:

The Omar Allen Burns Library, located in Peterson Hall (above)
Weter Memorial Library (above 3 photos)

Thank you for joining us to celebrate National Library Week 2009.