The University of Michigan Library: A History of Collections and Innovation
The University of Michigan Library stands as a cornerstone of academic life, a vast and evolving system dedicated to preserving knowledge and fostering intellectual exploration. Founded in 1838, even before the first classes were held, the library has grown from a modest collection to a sprawling network of resources, reflecting the University's commitment to research and learning. As of 2019-20, the University Library contained more than 14,543,814 volumes, while all campus library systems combined held more than 16,025,996 volumes.
Early Beginnings and Growth
The Michigan Legislature established the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1838, with an initial allocation for a library. A year later, the Board of Regents made its first acquisition: John James Audubon's Birds of America, a purchase that cost $970. This acquisition highlights the University's early commitment to building a significant collection.
In the University's early years, books were stored in various locations, including the Law School and professors' homes. In 1856, the North Wing of the University Building was remodeled to centralize the library and museum. The Library moved to the Law Building in 1863. The university's first dedicated library building, designed by architects Ware and Van Brunt, was completed in 1883, driven by the efforts of chief librarian Raymond Cazallis Davis. An addition was built to the south in 1898.
Expansion and Modernization
By 1915, the original library building was deemed a fire hazard due to overcrowding and its wood construction. A new building, designed by architect Albert Kahn (who was recorded as saying that the Clements Library was the design for which he most wanted to be remembered), was dedicated on January 7, 1920. This building now serves as the north building of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. By 1940, the University Library's card catalog had grown to contain 2,000 trays and 1.75 million cards.
The post-World War II era saw a surge in enrollment, fueled by the G.I. Bill, necessitating further expansion. In 1958, the Undergraduate Library was constructed and later renamed the Harold T. and Vivian B. Shapiro Undergraduate Library. An eight-story addition was built in 1970 to house print collections, administrative offices, the Map Library, Special Collections, and Papyrology.
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Key Libraries within the System
The University of Michigan Library system comprises numerous specialized libraries, each catering to specific academic disciplines and research interests. Among the most significant are:
Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library: The university's primary research collection for the humanities and social sciences, containing over 3.5 million volumes and 10,000 periodicals in more than 300 languages. Its strengths include English and French history, papyrology, Germanic history and culture, classical archeology, military history, and English Literature.
Shapiro Undergraduate Library: A popular study and meeting place for undergraduates, with a generalist collection of approximately 200,000 books and journals. It offers services such as Course Reserves, Reference Services, and the Peer Information Consultant (PIC) program.
Taubman Health Sciences Library: One of the largest medical libraries in America, with comprehensive collections in all facets of health care and medical research. It is a member of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine.
Stephen S. Clark Library Government Information Collection: serves as a center for government documents, and is also the a depository for publications of the State of Michigan, government of Canada, United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and European Union.
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Fine Arts Library: located on the second floor of Tappan Hall (the History of Art building) serves the History of Art department, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, the Kelsey Museum of Archeology.
Music Library: Located on the third floor of the Earl V. Moore Music Building.
Art, Architecture & Engineering Library (AAEL): Located on the North Campus.
Distinct Collections
The University of Michigan Library boasts a wealth of distinct collections, reflecting diverse areas of scholarship and cultural heritage. These include:
- History of astronomy and mathematics: Hundreds of pre-1800 publications, including works by Copernicus, Kepler, and Euclid. The Library owns an original Galileo manuscript, a gift of Tracy W. McGregor.
- Early manuscripts: Over 250 medieval and Renaissance volumes, as well as individual leaves, many of religious topics, including a collection of 20 parchment leaves containing the works of Shenoute of Atripe.
- Janice Bluestein Longone Culinary Archive: Materials on the American culinary experience, covering the production, promotion, preparation, presentation, consumption, and appreciation of food and drink in America.
- Joseph A. Worcester Philippine History Collection: Published works, manuscripts, and photographs on the history of the Philippines, including material donated by Dean Conant Worcester in 1914.
- Near East Division: Focuses on North Africa, Southwest Asia, Asia Minor, and Central Asia, with 597,507 monograph titles and 1,457 current serial titles as of 2013.
- Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Division: Focuses on Eastern Europe, Mongolia, modern Greece, Russia, and the post-Soviet states. Holdings include materials on Russian revolutionary movements, dissident writings, modern Armenian history and literature, and Southeast European travel literature.
Independent Libraries
Several libraries are affiliated with the University but operate independently of the University Library system:
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- Bentley Historical Library: Focuses on the history of the University of Michigan and the State of Michigan, housing materials such as scenic postcards, U-M paraphernalia, student scrapbooks, and family histories.
- William L. Clements Library: Features print and manuscript materials on the history of North America and the Caribbean, particularly 18th and 19th-century American history.
- Gerald R. Ford Library: A part of the Presidential libraries system of the National Archives and Records Administration, collecting materials from the Ford presidency and the Cold War era.
- Kresge Business Administration Library of the Ross School of Business
- Law Library of the University of Michigan Law School
- Ronald and Deborah Freedman Library of the Population Studies Center
- Transportation Research Institute Library: An extensive collection of literature on traffic safety.
- Biological Station Library: Located off-campus, specializing in limnology, ornithology, ecology, systematics, taxonomy, and natural history.
Digital Initiatives and Innovation
The University of Michigan Library has been at the forefront of digital innovation in library science. It was the original home of the JSTOR database and launched the Michigan Digitization Project in collaboration with Google in 2004. Books scanned by Google are included in HathiTrust, a digital library of major research institutions.
Responding to funding constraints and the rising costs of print materials, the library has embraced digital technology to provide cost-effective alternatives to traditional print publication. The Digital Library Production Service (DLPS) oversees the digitization of library materials and develops online access systems, utilizing its Digital Library Extension Service (DLXS) software.
Michigan Publishing operates print-on-demand programs, including the University of Michigan Faculty Reprints (FRS), which makes out-of-print books by university faculty available online and in print. The Scholarly Publishing Office (SPO), now part of Michigan Publishing, developed innovative publishing models for scholarly discourse, providing services to scholars at U-M and beyond.
Access and Engagement
The University of Michigan Library system is committed to providing access to its resources for students, faculty, and the public. Most library facilities are open to the public during regular hours, with reference services available on-site and online. The Duderstadt Center, also known as "The Dude," offers a public computing site, exhibits, events, and a Computer and Video Game Archive.
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