Today, June 30, marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the library building at Eastern Mennonite University. Marci Frederick, director of libraries, notes that the building was not named for Sadie Hartzler, former faculty member and library director, until 1985.
Library staff hosted an afternoon celebration with ice cream and a display of photos, floor plans, and blue prints. Surplus books, library t-shirts and some of the original library chairs.
June 30, 1971 – the day that the new library opened – was an historic day on the Eastern Mennonite College campus. The building was completed only with the help of a last-minute December 1969 fundraising drive during which students raised the final $111,000 needed to secure a matching grant. Construction began through the 1970-71 school year. Faculty, staff, students, and community members helped to move each book from the Administration Building.
Enjoy a few photos from the EMU Archives capturing the campus’s second librarian Margaret Shenk, President Myron Augsburger, the big book move, and historical records. For more detail, check out a library timeline we published during our Centennial celebration in 2017.
The EMU library holds a special place in my heart. I worked in the Curriculum library from 1978-1982 under Elsie Gehman . She taught me how to treat others with love and care while being in a leadership position.
I worked as Margaret Shenk’s assistant during the time of the library move. It was a huge event! Good to see the pictures of the volunteers helping to carry books to the new building — it was a well organized and very successful endeavor. Congratulations on 50 years!
Gloria L. Lehman, ’74
I worked 4 years if work-study at the circulation desk 1976-80 under Arlene Bumbaugh. It was a good job for a nursing major who needed access to the reserved books behind the desk!
I worked under the supervision of Bonnie Bowser from 1999-2000. Great memories.
As a class of ’71 student, I helped Kathryn Stoltzfus bake wet-bottom shoo-fly pies to contribute to that “impossible” $111,000 goal. That goal heartily united the student body. Student leaders sent numerous texts and emails. . . @ # No! Even prior to that tech convenience, student leaders somehow brilliantly exuded enthusiasm and urgency to fellow students to boldly step up and reach that goal to get us out of our crowded, suffocating dark dingy library! We are oh so close, let’s git ‘er done!! The entire campus joined the charge! Besides, we learned Pres. Augsburger knows nothing about our ambitious striving, we Can surprise him. . .and we did. Sorry, Pres. you get little credit for this exciting final part of fundraising!
Congratulations, EMU library and staff!