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Libraries Timeline

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  1. 1890
  2. 1900
  3. 1925
  4. 1950
  5. 1975
  6. 2000
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  1. 1889 First library opens as a single room in Holladay Hall Daniel Harvey Hill, Jr., a professor of English and bookkeeping, is the first college librarian. For the next ten years, Hill ordered all of the books for the library and supervised the student assistants. Due to his scholarly interests, the early collection was dominated by the humanities and history, despite the agricultural and engineering focus of the curriculum.
  2. 12/1889 Funds appropriated for the library The Board of Trustees appropriates $500 for "library purposes" and $150 for subscriptions for magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals.
  3. 1899 New librarian Edwin Bentley Owen becomes the new librarian, and University of Texas librarian Benjamin Wyche visits to implement the Dewey Decimal System of book classification, construct a card catalog, and institute a card loan system.
  4. 1902 First full-time librarian Marshall DeLancey Haywood becomes A&M's first full-time librarian.
  5. 1903 Library moves to Pullen Hall The library holdings move from Holladay Hall to the first floor of the old Pullen Hall.
  6. 1903 First female librarian Caroline Baldwin Sherman becomes the first female librarian.
  7. 1908 Library Committee formed English professors Thomas P. Harrison and George Summey are appointed as co-chairs of the Library Committee. The role of the committee was to contact faculty for recommendations of titles to be added to the library collection.
  8. 1911 Library holdings Library holdings include 7,500 print volumes and 150 magazine and journal subscriptions.
  9. 1923 Central library system All books in the departmental libraries are cataloged as part of a central library system.
  10. 12/28/1923 Contract awarded for construction of new library Contract for construction of a new library building (now Brooks Hall) is awarded to Joe W. Stout & Company, at a cost of $227,500.
  11. 1924 Library of Congress classification implemented After a fire destroyed the library's card catalog, librarian James Gulledge changes the book classification system from Dewey Decimal to the Library of Congress System (still in use).
  12. 1925 Inter-library lending Procedures for inter-library lending are first instituted.
  13. 10/15/1925 D. H. Hill Library opens in what is now Brooks Hall The original D.H. Hill Library in what is now Brooks Hall was built by Hobart Brown Upjohn and named for Daniel Harvey Hill, Professor of English when NC State first opened.
  14. 6/7/1926 D.H. Hill Library dedicated The original D.H. Hill Library is dedicated (this building later became Brooks Hall). The contents of the library had been moved into the building the previous autumn, marking the first time there was an entire building designated as the library.
  15. 1933 Library collaboration State College joins UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University in contributing catalog cards to the North Carolina Union Catalog, the first collaborative effort between the three libraries.
  16. 1933 New library director Hugh T. Lefler, head of the History Department and chair of the Library Committee, becomes acting director of the library.
  17. 2/17/1933 Engineering book dontation D. H. Hill Library is given a private engineering library of more than 1,000 books by the widow of Colonel J.L. Ludlow of Winston-Salem.
  18. 1936 Browsing room opens in the library
  19. 1936 Harlan Brown becomes the circulation librarian
  20. 1937 Periodicals and Binding librarian Clyde Hull Cantrell became the first periodicals and binding librarian.
  21. 1939 Harlan Brown becomes director of the library
  22. 1939 Establishement of University Archives As State College celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, materials on the institution's history begin to be collected in the library. This forms the basis of what would later become the University Archives.
  23. 1941 First branch library opens The Architecture Library opens as the first branch library, with Grace Sims Dalton as the first librarian. This library is renamed the Harrye B. Lyons Design Library in 1968.
  24. 1942 The library during World War II All male library staff members leave for military service during World War II, with Director Harlan Brown taking a leave of absence until 1946. Reference librarian Reba Clevenger becomes the acting college librarian during this time.
  25. 1944 Textile Library established The Textiles Library is established, with Rachel Penn Lane as the first librarian. The Textiles Library was originally located in the main library, but relocated to Nelson Hall the following year (1945). The library was renamed the Burlington Textiles Library in 1954, when Burlington Industries funded its expansion.
  26. 1946 Friends of the Library formed L. C. and M. M. Glenn donate $6,000 to State College for the library's purchase of geological publications, many rare and unique. In acquiring the L. C. Glenn Geological Collection, the Friends of the Library organization is formed.
  27. 1949 Library holdings reach 100,000 volumes
  28. 10/1/1953 Harrelson becomes head of University Archives Former Chancellor John Harrelson begins an appointment as the head of the University Archives collection at D.H. Hill Library.
  29. 3/12/1955 New D.H. Hill Library dedicated The new D. H. Hill Library (the east wing of the current building) is formally dedicated.
  30. 1960 Library newsletter The library publishes its first newsletter, The Bookmark.
  31. 1962 First full-time African-American library staff member Edward Walker is hired as a mail clerk, becoming the first full-time African-American staff member of the library.
  32. 1963 Librarians given professional faculty status
  33. 1963 Friends of the Library reformed The Friends of the Library program is reformed, after being largely inactive since the late 1940s.
  34. 1964 I. T. Littleton becomes acting director of the library I. T. Littleton becomes acting director of the library. Harlan Brown continues to serve the library as associate director until his retirement in 1971.
  35. 1964 Curriculum Materials Center established Inez Ray establishes the Curriculum Materials Center, later renamed the Learning Resources Library and then the College of Education Media Center.
  36. 1964 Eugene Clyde Brooks collection The library received the Eugene Clyde Brooks collection of approximately 1,000 books and journals on the history of education and North Carolina.
  37. 1965 First full-time University Archivist Maurice Toler becomes the first professionally trained, full-time University Archivist. While the university archives were housed in the library, the division initially reported directly to the Dean of Faculty (later titled Provost).
  38. 1965 Air conditioning installed in the library
  39. 1966 Technical Information Center established The Technical Information Center opens in the D. H. Hill Library, as a joint project between the library and the Industrial Extension Service.
  40. 1967 Cooperating Raleigh Colleges established The Cooperating Raleigh Colleges program is established by the libraries of NC State, Meredith College, Shaw University, Peace College, St. Mary's College, and St. Augustine College. The program allows direct borrowing of library resources among the six campuses.
  41. 12/8/1967 Longer library hours D.H. Hill Library extends the closing hour from 11PM to 1AM.
  42. 1968 Changes in Library operations After thefts of valuable volumes, a security system is installed in the D. H. Hill Library, and all doors are locked after service hours.
  43. 1969 Library acquires music resources The library received the Sanford Richard Winston Music Collection, consisting of classical music scores, opera librettos, guides, biographies of composers, books on music criticism and history, and musical recordings.
  44. 1970 First African-American librarian William V. Frazier is hired as the first African-American in a professional librarian position.
  45. 1970 School of Forest Resources Library opens The School of Forest Resources Library opens in Biltmore Hall.
  46. 1970 Increased library funding The North Carolina General Assembly makes an appropriation for funding of libraries at the sixteen senior public institutions of higher education in the state. NC State receives an increase of $723,915, resulting in a budget of $1,313,833 for fiscal year 1970-1971. The budget for books, periodicals, and binding increases to $624,123.
  47. 1970 First Systems Librarian William C. Horner becomes the first systems librarian.
  48. 1971 Libraries reorganization A reorganization of departments in the Libraries results in three major divisions headed by assistant directors. The divisions were General Services (including circulation), Reference Services, and Collection Development and Organization (including technical services). The school libraries - Design, Textiles, and Forest Resources - were now classified as branch libraries.
  49. 1971 Library entrance A single entrance to the library (from the Brickyard) is established for the first time.
  50. 1/17/1971 Color Wall activated The light mural (later known as the Color Wall) in D. H. Hill Library is activated for the first time, but not yet fully completed.
  51. 2/2/1971 Library addition passes inspection The 11-story addition to the D.H. Hill Library (North Tower) passes inspection and is declared ready for opening.
  52. 3/5/1971 Library addition opens The 11-story tower addition to the D.H. Hill Library (North Tower) opens.
  53. 7/1972 - 7/1972 Card catalog Interior of D. H. Hill Library, showing the documents card catalog. A few years after this photo was taken, in 1975, the NCSU Libraries commenced “computerized” cataloging of the book collection, which led to the development of the online catalog.
  54. 10/3/1972 Dedication of D.H. Hill Library North Tower The original eleven-story bookstack tower (now the North Tower) of the D. H. Hill Library is dedicated. With the addition, the bookstacks are opened to all users (previously, the library had had closed bookstacks).
  55. 1973 Libraries join SOLINET NC State becomes a charter member of the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET). Library director I.T. Littleton serves on SOLINET's initial board of directors, and chairs its first bylaws committee.
  56. 1974 D.H. Hill Librarians group formed The D.H. Hill Librarians group meets for the first time. In 1984, the group was renamed the NCSU Librarians' Association.
  57. 1975 Computerized cataloging begins The library begins computerized cataloging of materials. Retrospective conversion of the card catalog was started the following year.
  58. 7/1/1975 - 6/30/1976 Library expenditures Book, periodical, and binding expenditures exceed $1,000,000 in a fiscal year for the first time.
  59. 1976 Special Collections established A Rare Book and Special Collections Room, administered by the Reference Department, was established adjacent to the University Archives.
  60. 1977 Triangle university libraries collaboration The library directors at NCSU, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke University appointed a Triangle Universities Library Cooperation Committee (TULCC) to plan a cooperative program for the three universities.
  61. 1981 D.H. Hill Library holdings reach one million volumes
  62. 5/4/1983 NCSU Libraries join the ARL The NCSU Libraries become a member of the prestigious Association of Research Libraries (ARL).
  63. 1986 Library's online catalog goes live The library's online catalog, originally called the Bibliographic Information System (BIS), goes live. The following year, library staff stopped filing cards into the card catalog. In addition to providing information on NCSU holdings, BIS also gave users access to information on holdings at the other TRLN libraries.
  64. 1987 The NCSU Libraries becomes official system name "The NCSU Libraries" becomes the official name of the library system, encompassing the D. H. Hill Library and the four branch libraries (Design, Natural Resources, Textiles, and Veterinary Medicine).
  65. 1987 First annual I. T. Littleton Seminar The first annual I. T. Littleton Seminar is held by the Libraries.
  66. 1987 NC State University celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding
  67. 8/1987 Susan Nutter becomes the first female director of the NC State library
  68. 1988 The Friends of the Library hold their first booksale
  69. 1988 Kaye Gibbons becomes the first author-in-residence Kaye Gibbons, former NC State student, becomes the NCSU Libraries' first author-in-residence.
  70. 1989 Libraries assume administrative control over the University Archives
  71. 1989 Libraries adopt current logo
  72. 12/5/1989 Libraries' 100th anniversary The NCSU Libraries celebrates its 100th anniversary in a ceremony that includes planting three yoshino cherry trees in front of the East Wing of the building.
  73. 1990 Information Technologies Teaching Center (ITTC) established The Information Technologies Teaching Center (ITTC) is established in the D. H. Hill Library, initially funded through a gift from the Class of 1990.
  74. 1990 Library's South Tower opens A new addition to the D. H. Hill Library (South Tower) opens. Besides bookstack space, this addition features a special facilities room and the Class of 1989 Reading Room.
  75. 1990 Collection Management Department established The Collection Management Department is established, with Margaret Hunt as its first head. Hunt had been one of the first African-American librarians hired during the 1970s.
  76. 1991 Burlington Textiles Library moves In conjunction with the move of the College of Textiles, the Burlington Textiles Library moves to Centennial Campus, making it the first library unit on the new campus.
  77. 12/1991 Trial of electronic document deliveries The library begins a trial of an electronic document delivery service to university researchers.
  78. 1993 Susan Nutter becomes president of the Association of Research Libraries
  79. 1993 Information accessibility improved The NCSU Libraries initiates a new information system, accessible to remote users through campus local area networks and the Internet. Included is access to external databases and journal indexes, as well as the online catalog.
  80. 1993 History of D.H. Hill Library published The Friends of the Library publish Isaac T. Littleton's "The D.H. Hill Library: An Informal History, 1887-1987"
  81. 1994 Growth of Library holdings During the 1993-1994 academic year, the holdings of the Libraries reach 2,000,000 volumes.
  82. 1994 Daily van delivery begins The NCSU Libraries initiates daily van delivery of library resources between the D. H. Hill Library and the branch libraries.
  83. 1994 Research Libraries of the Future The NCSU Libraries are selected by the Association of Research Libraries as one of six "Research Libraries of the Future."
  84. 1995 Special Collections Research Center established The Special Collections Research Center is established, with David Jackson as the first department leader.
  85. 1995 Self-service circulation begins in the D. H. Hill Library
  86. 1996 Twenty-four hour Library The NCSU Libraries begins twenty-four hour service (Sunday through Thursday).
  87. 1996 Digital Library Initiatives The Digital Library Initiatives department is formed.
  88. 1996 TRIPSaver Service With funding from a tuition increase, the NCSU Libraries initiated the TRIPSaver service for NCSU users to expedite retrieval of items from other TRLN libraries.
  89. 1997 JSTOR Membership The NCSU Libraries become a charter member of the JSTOR electronic archive of journal articles.
  90. 1998 Scholarly Communication Center Established The Scholarly Communication Center is established, with Peggy E. Hoon as the first Scholarly Communications Librarian. NC State's library becomes the first in the nation to hire an intellectual property attorney to help both librarians and faculty interpret how copyright law protects or limits their access to information.
  91. 1998 Digital Library Federation Membership The NCSU Libraries became a member of the Digital Library Federation.
  92. 1999 Donald E. Moreland Associate Director for Public Services position established The Donald E. Moreland Associate Director for Public Services, the first named position in the NCSU Libraries, is created from an endowment established by Professor Emeritus Donald E. Moreland and his wife Verdie S. Moreland. Carolyn D. Argentati becomes the first to hold the position.
  93. 1999 NC Live established NC LIVE (North Carolina Libraries in Virtual Education) begins, with NC State serving as NC LIVE's primary server site.
  94. 2000 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award The NCSU Libraries wins the first-ever "Excellence in Academic Libraries Award" in the university library category. This award is sponsored by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).
  95. 2000 - 2001 Library holdings reach 3,000,000 volumes During the 2000-2001 academic year, the holdings of the Libraries reaches 3,000,000 volumes.
  96. 2002 Advance in ARL ranking The NCSU Libraries is ranked 32nd among 112 Association of Research Library (ARL) libraries, up from 101st in 1987 - an unprecedented accomplishment in ARL history.
  97. 2002 Hill of Beans coffee bar opens in D. H. Hill Library
  98. 2002 Gift to NCSU Libraries The NCSU Libraries receives its largest gift, a $1,000,000 charitable remainder trust, from an anonymous donor.
  99. 2005 Librarian of the Year Susan Nutter is named the Librarian of the Year by the Library Journal.
  100. 2006 New online library catalog The NCSU Libraries implements a revolutionary new online catalog, leveraging the advanced search and faceted navigation capabilities of the Endeca software platform. The new catalog provides the speed and flexibility of popular online search engines, while capitalizing on existing catalog records.
  101. 2007 Funding for new library on Centennial Campus approved The North Carolina General Assembly appropriates funding for the planning of the new James B. Hunt Jr. Library, to be built on Centennial Campus.
  102. 3/12/2007 Renovation of the East Wing completed A major renovation of the east wing of the D. H. Hill Library is completed, featuring the Learning Commons, the Conservatory, the Special Collections Reading Room, and the Exhibit Gallery. The opening of the newly refurbished space coincides with the fifty-second anniversary of the dedication of the original building in 1955.