EXPLORE FALL 2020 | VOLUME 2 | NUMBER 2
Celebrating 50 Years of Geisel Library
EXPLORE FALL 2020 | VOLUME 2 | NUMBER 2
Contents 2 Five Decades, Countless Memories 7 Inside the Vault 12 Here to Help: Staff Features 14 Stories from the Stacks 16 Geisel Library Fast Facts 17 50th Anniversary Sponsors
On the Cover Central University Library, now known as Geisel Library, under construction in 1969. Architect William Pereira recommended a picturesque, wooded area that would eventually serve as the Library’s home and the gateway to campus as the university grew and expanded around it.
EDITORIAL
PHOTOGRAPHY
Nikki Kolupailo Editor
Erik Jepsen UC San Diego Publications
April Green Deputy Editor
Nikki Kolupailo UC San Diego Library
CONTRIBUTORS Lynda Claassen Staff Writer Taylor Haglund Copy Editor Ellysa Lim Copy Editor
Robert Glasheen Photographs lib.ucsd.edu/robert-glasheen Scripps Institution of Oceanography Archives lib.ucsd.edu/sio-photographs
DESIGN Leah Roschke StudioGrafik
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While the role of libraries has changed over the past 50 years, I can assure you that our mission to prepare the next generation of global leaders has not. As part of our 50th anniversary, we continue to open our minds and hearts and find meaningful ways to spark discovery, foster collaboration and engage our broad UC San Diego community and friends.
In this issue of Explore, we are excited to commemorate our yearlong 50th anniversary celebration of Geisel Library. Known as the Central University Library until 1995, Geisel was conceived through the vision that the university demanded a top research library. My deep appreciation goes to these founders as well as countless individuals, including our current librarians and staff, who worked to realize this vision over the past five decades. The 2020–21 academic year has brought many changes to the Library, from our pivot to supporting students and faculty primarily through digital resources and services to finding new ways to celebrate Geisel’s milestone virtually. In September, more than 2,000 Library friends and campus
community members joined us from the comfort of their homes for a discussion with Tara Westover, bestselling author of the memoir “Educated,” moderated by executive director of The Preuss School UC San Diego, Helen V. Griffith ’81. When we welcomed students back remotely in early October, we invited them to get to know the Library’s virtual offerings and explore the history of Geisel Library by hosting an e-scavenger hunt. In November, we held a virtual discussion about the building’s history and masterful architecture. Led by the Library’s longtime director of Special Collections & Archives, Lynda Claassen, a panel of experts including urban designer Caroline Acheatel, UC San Diego Professor Teddy Cruz and local architect Kevin deFreitas, FAIA, explored the context and meaning behind the building’s design, helping us to understand how it influences our campus and community. A recording of
this event can be viewed at uctv.tv/library-channel. I would like to extend my thanks to our 50th anniversary sponsors (page 17), honorary chair Jeanne Jones and all Library Associates for helping the Library make this a memorable year. While the role of libraries has changed over the past 50 years, I can assure you that our mission to prepare the next generation of global leaders has not. As part of our 50th anniversary, we continue to open our minds and hearts and find meaningful ways to spark discovery, foster collaboration and engage our broad UC San Diego community and friends.
Erik T. Mitchell The Audrey Geisel University Librarian
CELEBRATE WITH US A C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H K E V I N Y O U N G Wednesday, February 24, 2021 | 5:30 p.m. PT Join us for a lively virtual event with poet, author and poetry editor for The New Yorker, Kevin Young. Moderated by UC San Diego Foundation Board Trustee and UC San Diego Alumni Board President Kimberley Phillips Boehm ’82, PhD, the discussion will explore Young’s most recent work, “African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song.” Young has served as director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library since 2016. In January 2021, he will become director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Registration details forthcoming. Visit geisel50.ucsd.edu/events for more information.
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FIVE DECADES
COUNTLESS MEMORIES An Architectural Icon Turns 50
A faculty member at the dedication ceremony recalled Pereira waxing poetic about the structure, stating that in order to experience the building properly, visitors should ‘lean back against the foundation and look up along one of the diagonal concrete columns, and project yourself into the sky of knowledge!’ Close your eyes and travel back in time to 1970. Place yourself at the University of California San Diego and take a look around. The campus, only being 10 years new, was just opening its third college and had significantly fewer students, faculty and buildings. Summer had come to a close and fall quarter was quickly approaching. Students began to arrive on campus while faculty feverishly put finishing touches on their syllabi. All was to be expected except for one very special occasion: the grand opening of UC San Diego’s newest architectural masterpiece, the iconic Geisel Library building, then known as the Central University Library. The Triton community had been teeming with excitement during the construction of the building, which spanned from 1968 to 1970, making the grand opening a much-anticipated event. In fact, the buzz surrounding the university’s new library was so powerful, it was helping the institution build its reputation as a place of quality education and innovative research. The first of some 750,000 volumes were moved into the building on June 29, 1970, and on September 29, the doors opened for the very first time. The campus community was finally able to set foot in their brand-new research library and begin to utilize the vast resources within.
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, Geisel Library is considered by many to be the most recognizable building on campus and definitely one of the most frequented, welcoming on average more than two million visitors per year. THE CONCEPT Let’s rewind even further back in time to the spring of 1964. Herb York, UC San Diego’s first chancellor, stepped down and soon thereafter John S. Galbraith, who was serving as vice chancellor for academic affairs at the time, was appointed chancellor. Almost immediately, Galbraith began to lobby for funding to create a “first-rate library” that would place UC San Diego in the upper echelon of University of California (UC) campuses, alongside Berkeley and UCLA. He envisioned a library that would sufficiently nourish the minds of the cross-disciplinary students of tomorrow and align with the young university’s forwardthinking, aspirational goals. With labored efforts, Galbraith’s wishes were eventually granted and he was given the green light to proceed. He wasted no time. He formed a committee for the project and in June 1965, he commissioned accomplished architect William L. Pereira to prepare a master plan for UC San Diego’s future focal point, the Central University Library.
Original concept sketch by architect William L. Pereira.
“A research library as exceptional as the university itself, that’s what Galbraith set out to achieve, and achieve he did,” said Erik Mitchell, the Audrey Geisel University Librarian. “I am so proud of how our Library serves our UC San Diego community, from the grand space that Geisel provides to the amazing staff, collections and events, all of which have allowed us to secure our place as one of the nation’s top academic research libraries—no easy feat. We also owe it in part to early trailblazers like Galbraith.” THE DESIGN Pereira’s first step in the process was to pinpoint an ideal location for the Library. After conducting an exhaustive study that produced 19 possible sites, he and his staff ultimately recommended a picturesque, wooded area in the center of campus that would allow the Library to remain a visible and symbolic landmark despite future developments. Next came the design. Pereira combined a number of architectural schemes to develop a design that led to the spherical, otherworldly shape of the building. He wanted to go beyond functionality with his design and produce a library that would “convey to future generations the idea of the power and permanency of the knowledge contained inside it,” as he stated in his original report (lib.ucsd.edu/pereirareport). “Pereira’s work is simply extraordinary, but for some reason as an architect his work is drastically under-celebrated. The man was an expressive genius, way
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Pereira’s unique Brutalist architectural design became known worldwide, eventually leading to the university using the building’s silhouette as its official logo—an early demonstration of how much influence architecture can have on an institution’s identity. ahead of his time,” said Kevin deFreitas, who is the lead architect for Geisel’s upcoming interior renovation project. Many are unaware of Pereira’s full body of work, which consists of well over 300 projects, including highly recognizable buildings in each of California’s three major cities: San Diego (Geisel Library), San Francisco (Transamerica Pyramid) and Los Angeles (numerous works including the Theme Building at LAX, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the City of Irvine’s master plan). Over time, Pereira’s unique Brutalist architectural design became known worldwide, eventually leading to the university using the building’s silhouette as its official logo—an early demonstration of how much influence architecture can have on an institution’s identity.
TOP: Freshman Valerie Spiess Lipiniski and Chancellor John S. Galbraith studied a model of the soon-to-be built Central University Library. MIDDLE: Aerial view of the construction of the Central University Library, March 28, 1969.
960s
BOTTOM: Architect William Pereira speaking at the building’s original dedication ceremony in March 1971.
“Geisel is what makes architecture special. It excites your imagination and makes you feel something,” deFreitas added. “From a design perspective, the Library is just as powerful today as it was ambitious for an upstart UC campus on the bluffs of La Jolla 50 years ago.”
THE CONSTRUCTION Funding for the Central University Library project was received in May 1968 and construction began soon thereafter. The total cost for the project, including architectural design, construction, furniture, equipment and administration was $5.4 million, with $4.4 million being construction costs— just about $25 per square foot. Originally designed to be a steelframed structure, the primary building material for the Library was changed to concrete due to the rising cost of steel in the 1960s. In the end, more than 38,000 square feet of glass and 17,000 cubic yards of concrete were used to complete the Library. The concrete dons a horizontal wood grain left by the wood forms used for casting. To bear the weight and stress of the cantilevered building, four angled cast-in-place columns (or “bents”) are anchored in footings on all sides of the building, each containing 1,500 cubic yards of concrete. The bents angle upward at 45 degrees to the sixth level and are tied to their counterparts across the building (at both the fifth and sixth levels) by approximately 300 high-
1960
Melvin J. Voigt was appointed as the first university librarian. Voigt served in this role for 16 years, a period which saw the campus library resources grow from a limited oceanographic collection to a major undergraduate and graduate research collection of over a million volumes.
1961
Friends of the UCSD Library was founded. Of its many functions, the group supported the growth of the Library through donations of books, collections or monetary funds, and they served as a link between the university and the local community.
THE PRESENT
tensile steel post-tensioning rods, each 1/4 inch in diameter.
Today, approximately 1.4 million print volumes call Geisel Library home, and the UC San Diego Library system as a whole provides access to more than 7 million digital and print volumes, journals and multimedia materials. Geisel is also home to rare and unique primary works in its Special Collections & Archives, including the Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages, Southworth Spanish Civil War Collection, Archive for New Poetry and many more (page 7).
A faculty member at the dedication ceremony recalled Pereira waxing poetic about the structure, stating that in order to experience the building properly visitors should “lean back against the foundation and look up along one of the diagonal concrete columns, and project yourself into the sky of knowledge!” Now, let’s fast forward to the 1990s. With a growing student population and increased visitorship, the need for more public space became impossible to ignore. Thankfully, Pereira’s original design allowed for the possibility for expansion in the future, and in 1992, an underground addition on the east, west and south sides of the building was designed by Latvian-American architect Gunnar Birkerts. Birkerts deliberately designed this addition to extend the foundation of the strong, geometrical form of the existing structure while using glass and natural light to situate the Library into the landscape. After the expansion was complete, the building was renamed University Library at the rededication ceremony in 1993. On December 1, 1995, it was renamed Geisel Library in honor of Audrey S. and Theodor Seuss Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss) in recognition of Audrey’s generosity toward the Library.
1963
The Library became a part of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP)—a government program created to make U.S. federal government publications available to the public at no cost.
1965
William L. Pereira & Associates was invited to design the new Central University Library. The firm chose an elevated spheroid shape because it “allows for a high degree of flexibility in the organization of the collection and does not rely on elevators for circulation within the book stacks.”
“We aim to preserve history for the future in support of the university’s academic programs,” said Lynda Claassen, longtime director of Special Collections & Archives at the Library. “Our goal is to organize information, then share it in meaningful and efficient ways with various communities.”
TOP: The circulation desk and card catalog at the Central University Library, December 4, 1970. MIDDLE: Original photo of the “meet spot” at the Central University Library. BOTTOM: Draft rendering of the future “meet spot” at Geisel Library.
1966
The Southworth Collection on the Spanish Civil War was purchased; with continuing acquisitions, it has become the world’s most extensive collection on the subject.
1968
UC San Diego broke ground on the Central University Library project.
Over the years, the Library has made it a point to keep pace with technological advances in library science, integrating cutting-edge offerings to meet the diverse needs of undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Geisel Library, in particular, provides campus constituents with free access to the Digital Media Lab, which contains 3D printers and virtual reality headsets, and the Data & GIS Lab, where librarians provide guidance on quantitative, qualitative and geographical research.
1968
The Library added its half-millionth book, The Vision of Piers Plowman (London, 1550), to its collection, a gift from Friends of the UCSD Library.
1968
The Archive for New Poetry was founded in Special Collections & Archives, becoming one of the top American poetry collections.
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In 1995, the Central University Library was renamed Geisel Library in honor of the contributions of Theodor Seuss Geisel (“Dr. Seuss”) and his wife Audrey, following a $20 million gift from Audrey Geisel. Housed within Geisel Library, Special Collections & Archives is the primary repository for original Dr. Seuss materials, containing more than 20,000 original works and rare memorabilia.
Geisel is also widely viewed as a place of community. Library employees work diligently to host events that allow campus and community members to engage with one another, oftentimes leading to creative partnerships and thoughtful dialogue. To refuel and decompress, patrons can also enjoy a cup of coffee at Audrey’s Café and explore rotating exhibits showcasing historic and rarely seen works from Special Collections & Archives. THE FUTURE Looking ahead, there is still so much great work to do. The UC San Diego Library seeks to modernize Geisel’s interior spaces, integrating even more technology to meet the evolving needs of Library users.
970s
The upcoming renovation, scheduled to commence in 2021, will include
updates to the Library’s most heavily used second (main) floor. The goal is to transform the learning and research experience at Geisel Library by providing updated, cohesive services and creating new spaces for students and faculty to learn, collaborate and showcase their work. Through this project, deFreitas aims to hearken back to many of Pereira’s original design elements, including bringing back the reading room that was just inside the main entrance in the 1970s. This space will take on a mid-century modern design aesthetic and serve as a “meet spot” for visitors, allowing them to pause and decide where within the Library they would like to go. “Geisel Library means so much to our students and community,” Mitchell added. “If you visit the Library in the
spring and summer months, you’ll likely see students posing outside on the forum for their graduation photos. This speaks to their affinity for the building and, I hope, to the positive experiences they had in the Library. I am excited for the Library’s future at the center of this great university.” UC San Diego affiliates and the public are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Geisel Library on social media using #Geisel50 or via this form: lib.ucsd.edu/memories. Visit geisel50.ucsd.edu for information on upcoming events, details on how you can become a member of the newly created UC San Diego Library Associates giving society and more.
1970
The new Central University Library opened. The first of some 750,000 volumes were moved into the building on June 29 and the building opened for student use at the start of fall quarter on September 29.
Preserving History for the Future
Like an early architectural scheme for a miniature version of the Central University Library that would house UC San Diego’s rare and archival materials, Special Collections & Archives (SC&A) is a “micro” version of our larger library enterprise. Established 50 years ago by Melvin Voigt, our visionary first university librarian, SC&A performs all of the functions that take place in the other units of the Library plus a few more that are unique to SC&A. What’s different about SC&A is our holdings: rare books, maps, manuscripts, photographs, recordings, art works, archives and even digital materials that distinguish the UC San Diego Library from other research libraries. From its inception, SC&A has focused on working collaboratively with UC San Diego faculty to build comprehensive collections that support campus academic programs. Dating from the 13th century and numbering 250,000 volumes and a few miles of manuscripts, collections focus on early voyages of exploration and discovery in the Pacific; the Spanish Civil War; oceanography; the culinary history of the West Coast and Latin America; modern American poetry; the anthropology of Oceania; the history of San Diego and the border region; Baja California; artists’ books; the history of contemporary science and technology;
1971
All residents of the city and county were invited to visit the campus and tour the new research library building. The general open house was part of a three-day building dedication that also included a preview opening event with remarks by architect William Pereira and a special “educators day” for faculty and staff of both public and private elementary and secondary schools.
and the records of our own campus. Many of these collections have become the “library of record” for international scholarship and primary resources for students to experience, study and analyze. While these materials connect us to the past, they also connect us to the international community of scholars and the greater San Diego community. During the Library’s infancy, the Friends of the UCSD Library and generous individuals offered support through gifts of funds and assistance with securing books and manuscripts. Today, most books for SC&A are purchased, but the majority of manuscript collections come about because of longtime relationships with San Diegans, such as Dr. Salk and Dr. Seuss.
publication requests from all parts of the globe via email, a service that has become increasingly valued during the current pandemic. While SC&A’s materials connect us to the past, our true mission is to share these treasures as widely as possible. Ultimately, the value is what students and scholars do with them through research, instruction and new scholarship that gives them a future. Enjoy the images – a few of our favorite things from the vault! Lynda Corey Claassen Director, Special Collections & Archives
For those unable to visit the Library in person, digitization has made many of our unique materials accessible to a wider range of patrons, and this type of outreach is an ongoing effort. We facilitate a significant volume of reference and
1973
The Library added its one-millionth volume, John Ogilby’s America, a rare account of early discoveries and expeditions to America, a gift of Kenneth E. and Dorothy V. Hill.
COLLECTIONS SPO TLIGHT
Inside the Vault
1974
The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages was established in Special Collections & Archives and became a “library of record” for early Pacific exploration. The nucleus of the collection was a gift from Kenneth E. & Dorothy V. Hill.
1976
Millicent D. Abell was appointed as the second university librarian. FA L L 2020
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Amelia Simmons. American Cookery… Brattleborough, VT: 1814 (American Institute of Wine & Food Culinary Collection)
Bintliff, Martha Bradshaw. Plaza de Panama (for the Panama-California Exposition) Original watercolor, 1915 (San Diego History Collection)
980s
William Dampier. A New Voyage Round the World… London: 1698 (Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages)
1985
Dorothy D. Gregor was appointed as the third university librarian.
1985
UC San Diego celebrated its 25th anniversary. A collection of oral histories from various people involved with the establishment of the campus, a project commissioned by Chancellor Richard C. Atkinson, was archived in the Library’s Special Collections & Archives.
Qur’an illuminated manuscript leaf, 16th century (Rare Collection)
1985
UC President David P. Gardner and the UC Regents Committees on Finance approved a budget that would allow expansion of the Central University Library building, providing more space for users, staff and collections.
Parisius de Altedo. Incipit Orthographia Manuscript written in 1297 (Oldest book in the UC San Diego Library)
Leslie Scalapino. The Animal is in the World like Water in Water Illustrated by Kiki Smith. New York: 2009 (Archive for New Poetry)
1986
Tree of Content, part of Terry Allen’s Stuart Collection piece, Trees, was initially installed to the right of the Library’s entrance. Referred to by students as the “Silent Tree,” the structure was moved in 1993 and now resides directly in front of the building’s entrance marking the beginning of Library Walk.
COLLECTIONS SPOTLIGHT
Wentworth Bayly. Log of Her Majesty’s screw steam frigate Curacoa… Manuscript logbook kept by a midshipman, with original ink drawings, 1865 (Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages)
1988
California Governor George Deukmejian approved a $1 million budget for the expansion of the Central University Library.
1989
Joe Rubinger donated the Irene Rubinger/ Institute for Continued Learning Memorial Carillon, and the electric chimes were played for the first time in memory of his wife Irene.
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Charles H. Graves. [UCSD students piled in La Jolla Cab car] La Jolla, CA: 1964 (UCSD History Collection)
990s
Herman Baca and CĂŠsar ChĂĄvez Photograph from a Proposition 14 rally, 1967 (Chicano Studies Collection)
James Stewart. SIO diving officer at Scripps Pier SIO Photo Lab, 1965 (Scripps Institution of Oceanography Archives)
James Stewart. Namonuito Dance in the Caroline Islands, during the Carmarsel Expedition, 1967 (Scripps Institution of Oceanography Archives)
1990
Construction of the underground Central University Library expansion, designed by architect Gunnar Birkerts, began. The addition added 200,000 square feet, thereby doubling usable space for patrons, staff and book storage.
1990
A new online computer library catalog called ROGER was established in honor of Roger Revelle, one of the founders of UC San Diego.
Renau Montoro, Juan. Victoria, Hoy mas que nunca! [Spain]: 1938 (Southworth Spanish Civil War Collection)
Koba-Russell Sketchbook. Drawn by Koba (Wild Horse), a Kiowa Indian while a prisoner at St. Augustine, Florida, 1876 (Plains Indian Ledger Art Project)
1992
Original archival materials by famed children’s author Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, were donated to the university by his widow Audrey Geisel. Nearly 10,000 drawings, sketches, notebooks and other memorabilia dating from the 1970s to the 1990s were added to the newly established Dr. Seuss Collection housed in the Library’s Special Collections & Archives.
Alice Notley. Untitled collage mask From Notley’s extensive personal archives, 1970s (Archive for New Poetry)
1992
Alexis Smith’s Snake Path, the 11th sculpture to be created for the Stuart Collection, was inaugurated. The body of the snake winds its way up the hillside leading to the Library.
1993
The Central University Library expansion was completed. UC San Diego renamed the building the University Library at a rededication ceremony.
1993
Gerald R. Lowell was appointed as the fourth university librarian.
COLLECTIONS SPOTLIGHT
While SC&A’s materials connect us to the past, our true mission is to share these treasures as widely as possible. Ultimately, the value is what students and scholars do with them through research, instruction and new scholarship that gives them a future.
1995
In recognition of a substantial gift from Audrey Geisel, the University Library was renamed Geisel Library in honor of Audrey and her late husband Theodor Seuss Geisel for their commitment to promoting literacy and education. To this day, the Library remains the primary repository for original Dr. Seuss materials, containing more than 20,000 original works and rare memorabilia.
1999
Brian E. C. Schottlaender was appointed as the fifth university librarian. FA L L 2020 11
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Marlayna Christensen University Archivist, Describe your role at the Library. In my role, I help students and researchers navigate our collections and collect records about campus life; academic and administrative activity; faculty governance; research and teaching; student activities; sports; and community relations.
When did you begin working at the Library, and in library science in general? My library career began back east where I worked at the Folger Shakespeare Library, New York University and Yale. After a decade, I relocated to UC Santa Barbara and worked there for three years before coming to UC San Diego in 2002. I worked in a few positions before becoming the university archivist in 2016.
Here to Help At the Library, we have subject librarians who specialize in topics ranging from aerospace engineering to visual arts. These subject matter experts help our patrons explore specific areas of study and drive research projects forward. Meet two librarians who consistently go above and beyond to ensure student success.
Timothy Chu First Year Experience Librarian Describe your role at the Library. In my role, I introduce students transitioning from high school or junior college to the Library’s vast resources and services—my main charge is to support student success. Incoming students need help adapting to the rigors of university-level research—that’s where I come in. I ensure they are familiar with our offerings.
2001
Renowned artist John Baldessari transformed the building’s facade and interior foyer to become the 15th piece in UC San Diego’s Stuart Collection: Read/Write/Think/Dream.
2003
The first Dinner in the Library was held, a novelty in 2003 when food was prohibited in the building. Originally hosted and fully planned by Friends of the UCSD Libraries, the event became an annual tradition with proceeds benefitting the greatest needs of the Library.
2004
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Theodor Seuss Geisel’s birthday, a bronze statue of Dr. Seuss and one of his most memorable characters, the Cat in the Hat, was unveiled at Geisel Library. The statue was sculpted by Geisel’s stepdaughter, Lark Dimond Cates.
When did you begin working at the Library, and in library science in general? After earning my bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, I returned to my high school and worked as a library assistant—this was my introduction to library work and led me to pursue my Masters in Library and Information Science at UCLA. After graduating, I served as associate librarian at De La Salle High School for two years, then transitioned to UC San Diego, taking on my current role.
2004
The papers of San Diegan Herman Baca, a leading Chicano rights activist and prominent member of the Mexican-American community, were acquired by the Library. Since the 1960s, Baca educated and represented the Chicano community and the rights of undocumented immigrants by means of organizing protests, encouraging self-determination and defending human rights.
Special Collections & Archives How do you help patrons achieve their academic goals? The most important work I do “behind the scenes” is collaborating with campus leaders to locate, transfer and arrange materials for future research. When records are no longer needed, staff can contact me by email or phone to discuss next steps for transferring materials to the archives. I also actively engage with our users to help them find the information that will be relevant to their needs. What do you enjoy most about your job? I love meeting campus leaders and students and learning about their history, achievements and development. It’s fun to watch people’s faces as they discover their work is a part of the university’s history. What is one of your favorite projects to date? I processed (arranged and described)
How do you help patrons achieve their academic goals? In my role, being relatable is key. For example, in our library instruction sessions, I make it a point to give examples that resonate with our students to ensure they connect with the materials. I also believe being empathetic to the students’ needs and concerns is paramount. Our systems are complex, and being compassionate and caring can go a long way. What do you enjoy most about your job? I will always love working with students. Seeing what they are passionate about and what they are interested in will always be rewarding to me. Helping them realize the value of libraries and the knowledge they provide.
the University of California Division of War Research papers, which is a collection of research reports produced by faculty and staff from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography between 1941–1953. Some of the research was used to plan the beach landing of the troops at Normandy and develop sonar technology to track submarines. My father fought in World War II and I’ve always been fascinated by it. What do you see as being the future for libraries? Knowledge will always be important and libraries will continue to help aggregate information and provide a communal environment for exploration and discovery. We will take a more active role in identifying, preserving and providing access to content through the digital advances ahead.
What is a surprising fact about you? I am named after a woman from the Belgian underground who rescued my father when his plane was shot down. My name is spelled phonetically rather than in the traditional way because my mom had a name that people always mispronounced. She thought this would help people get it right. Which milestone on our historical timeline do you think is the most important? Melvin Voigt, the first university librarian, stands out for me. He developed a model for a solid research collection that other UC campuses also employed. He led the expanding library through three different homes (Urey Hall, Galbraith Hall and Central University Library), all within the first 10 years of the campus. mkchristensen@ucsd.edu
What is one of your favorite projects to date? My favorite project has been coordinating our annual Undergraduate Library Research Prize. Being able to recognize student achievements in research and reading the fantastic work our students create has been deeply satisfying. I enjoy seeing how many services are being utilized by our students and their process in realizing when to use them. What do you see as being the future for libraries? I hope the future of the academic library focuses on the whole student. While our charge should always be helping students academically thrive, helping students maximize their college experience is something that the academic library could expand upon.
What is a surprising fact about you? I am very good at FreeCell. I once had a dream where I beat every FreeCell game, but got stuck around the ten-thousandth game. Which milestone on our historical timeline do you think is the most important? I think the most important moment for Geisel Library was the underground expansion in the 1990s. Being able to add 200,000 square feet has provided much-needed space for our ever-growing collections and sufficient study space for our students. As we move forward and modernize our library spaces, the earlier addition gives us the footprint that we need to serve our students with new services and offerings. tschu@ucsd.edu
2004
The Library celebrated the acquisition of its three-millionth volume, The Shepherd of Banbury’s Rules to Judge of the Changes of the Weather (London, 1744), a small volume of 64 pages by John Claridge, gifted by Kenneth E. and Dorothy V. Hill.
2008
The Library became the first library system in Southern California to partner with Google in its global effort to digitize the collections of the world’s premier libraries. FA L L 2020
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I grew up next to UCSD and my dad was a student. He would bring me to Geisel Library to see the architecture, walk down Snake Path behind the Library and watch the greatest movies from the Library’s archives. I learned so much at Geisel Library—from architecture to film and philosophy— and my experiences there have enriched my life. YASMIN HELLMAN
2018
Erik T. Mitchell was appointed as the sixth university librarian.
2018
Phase 2 of the Geisel Library Revitalization Initiative— the renovation of the 8th floor—was completed. Library leadership, Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Simmons and Associated Students President Kiara Gomez reopened the floor during a ribbon cutting ceremony. The floor remains a space for individual silent study and houses the Z Collection, an assortment of “books about books.”
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Sponsorship of Geisel Library’s 50th anniversary enables the Library to continue providing transformational resources, services and experiences to the Triton family for the next 50 years and beyond. We’d like to thank our generous supporters for helping us ensure that Geisel Library remains as iconic on the inside as it is on the outside. 50th Anniversary Honorary Chair Jeanne Jones 50th Anniversary Bibliophiles Joan and Irwin Jacobs Jeanne Jones Sally WongAvery ’75 50th Anniversary Collectors Atkinson Family Foundation Diana Fakhrai ’01, MPIA ’04, and Jacob Poorman Jeanne L. Herberger Mark A. Johnson ’88 and Melinda W. Johnson Brian and Sherri Schottlaender 50th Anniversary Authors Carol and Jeff Chang Karen Dow Theresa and Stan Fleming Wendy W. Kwok ’99 Charles H. Marston ’78 and Rosa Luevano Bebe and Marvin Zigman
50th Anniversary Readers Anonymous Anonymous Katherine H. Bower ’68 Mrs. John C. Carson Yi-Hung Chung ’97 and Yingfei Zhou Dr. Ruth M. Covell Tammy Nickelson Dearie ’84 and Kurt Dearie Degenkolb Engineers Erik T. Engelson ‘82, MS ‘84 Phyllis F. and Daniel J. Epstein E. Clare Friedman Georgia and Alex Gilderman Alison and George Gildred Richard L. Gomez, MD ’79 Lynda Gualtier and Jeff Solis Noriko and Toshi Ishihara ’84, MS ’87, PhD ’89 Geoffrey T. Lam ’01 Phyllis and Edward Mirsky Erik Mitchell and Jeffery Loo Judith Morgan Mary C. Munk Claudia J. Prescott Stephanie Sides Elizabeth H. Simmons and R. Sekhar Chivukula Georgiana and William Simmons Mary L. Walshok
50th Anniversary Partners American Institute of Architects, San Diego La Jolla Historical Society San Diego Architectural Foundation UC San Diego Alumni If you’d like to join this list of generous donors, please contact Taylor Haglund at (858) 534-7021 or geisel50@ucsd.edu. Sponsors listed as of print time
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LIBRARY ASSOCIATES ANNUAL GIVING SOCIETY In honor of Geisel Library’s 50th anniversary, we are proud to announce the creation of UC San Diego Library Associates. This giving society is comprised of alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and dedicated community members who believe that the Library is at the heart of UC San Diego’s academic mission. Library Associates provide critical support for us to meet immediate and long-term goals that ensure the Library continues to serve all of our constituencies, all while enjoying special access to Library events and activities. A gift of any size to any Library fund will make you a Library Associate today! To learn more, please contact geisel50@ucsd.edu.
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