History of Zimmerman LibraryMurals
by Kenneth Adams in Zimmerman Library
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Zimmerman Library, centrally located on the main campus of the University of New Mexico, is considered the finest example of modified Spanish Pueblo-Revival style architecture developed by the noted UNM architect John Gaw Meem. The American Institute of Architects has named Zimmerman Library New Mexico's building of the century. Zimmerman Library is the largest of the four libraries in the University Libraries system. It contains general and research materials for subject areas in education, humanities, and social sciences. Faculty and staff in Zimmerman Library provide reference service and instruction in the use of the library's many electronic, microform, and paper resources through individual assistance, workshops, courses, and special orientations. The Zimmerman Library Reference Department provides assistance in locating information and using in-house and online library resources. Reference also houses a large collection of print, microform, and electronic resources to assist users with their information needs. The Government Information Department is a Regional Depository for federal publications as well as a depository for State of New Mexico publications and offers reference services and instruction in the use of these resources. Special services for qualified students with a disability
include the retrieval of materials from the shelves, a limited amount
of free The Center for Southwest Research is housed in the
historic West Wing of Zimmerman Library. The Center includes valuable
New Mexican and Southwestern materials, including rare books, manuscripts,
photographs, and maps, as well as the Anderson collection of books
on the American West, the John Gaw Meem Archive of materials dealing
with southwestern architecture, The Center for Academic Program Support (CAPS) is located on the third floor of Zimmerman Library. CAPS provides free academic support services to all undergraduates. It offers individual tutoring, small group workshops, non-credit study skills workshops, and walk-in labs. HISTORYWhen the University of New Mexico opened in 1892,
it consisted of a single building, Hodgin Hall, located on 20 acres.
Within this building one room was set aside to house the less than
100 books that made up the Library. Many of the materials were donated
or loaned by the faculty for the education of the seventy-five member
student body. It would be two years later before the Library would
receive its first appropriation, $25 to buy periodicals, and it
was the next year before the Library made its first Expansion of the Library, literally a volume at a time, ultimately threatened to overwhelm Hodgin Hall. In 1924, plans were made for the construction of a new Library to be located east of the original University building. Designed by architect Elson H. Norris and built by E. J. Marchant, the building was finished in May 1926. Librarian Wilma Loy Shelton, assisted by virtually all the students, faculty, and staff, moved the collection of 12,000 volumes from Hodgin Hall to the new building in two hours. Though designed to serve for decades, the building
was inadequate in less than 10 years, and in 1936, bids were opened
for a new Library to be constructed with Public Works Administration
funds. Miss Shelton kept a close eye on the construction of the
new Library. Designed by architect John Gaw Meem, the original wing
of Zimmerman was designed in Pueblo Revival style with a nine-story
tower. Special attention was paid to details such as hand tinned
light fixtures and hand carved beams, with Miss When the building was finished in March 1938, another
book parade, headed by President James Zimmerman and the marching
band, carried books from the old Library to the new Library. Unlike
the 1926, move, however, most of the volumes were moved by truck.
The old Library was turned over to the Art Department and continues
to serve today as studio space for graduate art Growth of the library collections continued with
the addition of books and the creation of the manuscript depository
or Special Collections. In 1961, the Library was named for President
James F. Zimmerman (1927-44). In 1964, and 1973, additions, known
as Zimmerman II and III, were made to the east side of the building,
tripling its original size. In 1963, Fine Arts materials were moved
to a branch library in the Fine Arts Center. In 1969, Parish Memorial
Library opened in the College of Business and In 1980, the Library celebrated the acquisition
of its one-millionth volume. After this event, plans were begun
for the creation of a regional center to house Zimmerman's the collection
of Southwest materials. As the concept for the Center for Southwest
Research (CSWR) emerged, the need for another library expansion
became apparent and in 1992 ground was broken for a three-story
underground addition. With a $5 million grant from the federal General
Services Administration and $1.8 million from the CHRONOLOGY1893-1902: M. Custers served as librarian, school custodian and professor of surveying and trigonometry. 1902-03: Kate Cunningham, who was a sophomore science major, acted as interim librarian while maintaining a full course load. 1903-05: Julia Brown served as librarian in addition to her full-time job as professor of history. 1905-18: Della Sisler was the first full time librarian. She also managed the dining hall. 1918-20: Pearl Anjanette Stone was interim librarian but no written record of her tenure exists. 1920-44: Wilma Loy Shelton oversaw the construction of the University's first two libraries and the book collection tripled during her time. 1944-49: Arthur McAnally organized the library into technical, public, and administrative services. He was the first to request faculty status for librarians. 1949-71: David Otis Kelley oversaw the construction of an addition to Zimmerman and the opening of two branch libraries. Faculty status was granted to librarians during his tenure. 1972-73: John Harvey began the process of automating the library by introducing an automatic bookkeeping and acquisition system. 1973-74: Arthur DeVolder was interim director of the library. A new computerized accounting system was installed and books were purchased with full cataloging to aid in their quick processing. 1974-86: Paul Vassallo concentrated on collection development which resulted in an invitation to become a member of the Association of Research Libraries in 1979. 1986-2001: Robert Migneault oversaw the construction of the new Parish Memorial Library, the Centennial Science and Engineering Library, and the remodeling and expansion of Zimmerman Library to house the Center for Southwest Research. 2001-2002: Frances C. Wilkinson served as Interim Dean during the search for a new dean. 2002-2006: Camila Alire provided leadership for the University Libraries' strategic planning as the library strived to serve both the traditional as well as the emerging electronic library functions and patron needs. 2006 - 2007 Frances C. Wilkinson serves as Interim Dean during the search for a new dean. 2007 - Martha Bedard becomes Dean of University Libraries on August 1. |