Emmanuel d'Alzon Library celebrates 20th anniversary
Drew Whitmore
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: News Stories
Skyscrapers of reference books and drawer after endless drawer of card catalogs; this is the scene Larry Spongberg and a handful of other librarians witnessed when the time came to move Assumption College's library from La Maison Francaise to the new Emmanuel d'Alzon building. "There was only one reference librarian at day and one at night then and I spent sixteen years as the night librarian," Larry recalled. "I was [at Maison] for my first nine [of 29] years. We had printed indexes and a card catalog rather than computers."
For most students, the library without computers would be a terrifying thought. However, it wasn't until the mid '90s that the technology was introduced. "In the '90s we automated some 200,000 volumes into databases," Larry explained. "The books also needed new numbering and organization. It took me seven or eight stages of filing books and moving them again to make room for more."
The move was a large but necessary action, as evinced by former President Joseph Hagan's decision to build a new library upon the completion of a campus center. Not only was the two-floor library in La Maison of insufficient size, but a new library was able to deliver good lighting, carpets, air conditioning and comfortable seats, all greatly desired amenities for students. In fall of 1988 Emmanuel d'Alzon Library opened its doors to students and faculty. Dawn Thistle, Director of Library Services and Interim Director of Information Technology and Media Services, explained that the choice of name was obvious. "Father d'Alzon was the founder of the Assumptionists and his philosophy was education is at the heart of faith. He was a perfect example who combined faith and education in his ministry."
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the library held a commemoration on Tuesday, September 30 [event held after press time]. The function contained two guest speakers, Scott Bennett and R. Drayton Fair. Thistle explained that Bennett, Yale University Librarian Emeritus, will speak about "different paradigms of academic library use. How students today use libraries differently than a generation ago and how space has an impact." Fair, an architect for Lerner Ladds+Bartels, will display designs for how the library could either use space differently or add space.
For most students, the library without computers would be a terrifying thought. However, it wasn't until the mid '90s that the technology was introduced. "In the '90s we automated some 200,000 volumes into databases," Larry explained. "The books also needed new numbering and organization. It took me seven or eight stages of filing books and moving them again to make room for more."
The move was a large but necessary action, as evinced by former President Joseph Hagan's decision to build a new library upon the completion of a campus center. Not only was the two-floor library in La Maison of insufficient size, but a new library was able to deliver good lighting, carpets, air conditioning and comfortable seats, all greatly desired amenities for students. In fall of 1988 Emmanuel d'Alzon Library opened its doors to students and faculty. Dawn Thistle, Director of Library Services and Interim Director of Information Technology and Media Services, explained that the choice of name was obvious. "Father d'Alzon was the founder of the Assumptionists and his philosophy was education is at the heart of faith. He was a perfect example who combined faith and education in his ministry."
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the library held a commemoration on Tuesday, September 30 [event held after press time]. The function contained two guest speakers, Scott Bennett and R. Drayton Fair. Thistle explained that Bennett, Yale University Librarian Emeritus, will speak about "different paradigms of academic library use. How students today use libraries differently than a generation ago and how space has an impact." Fair, an architect for Lerner Ladds+Bartels, will display designs for how the library could either use space differently or add space.
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