History
The University of Virginia Education Library
and
The Curry School of Education
A Partnership
September 10, 1973 -
Over 30 years of creating opportunities
for students to learn and library users to succeed!
A Reflection
Thirty four years is not especially "old" in comparison to the other U.Va. libraries but more progress and activities have been packed into those years then can be described in this brief reflection. The Education Library was established with a purpose and mission —to serve primarily the faculty, students, and staff of the Curry School of Education, support the academic, and research programs of the Curry School, and to meet the needs of users outside the School such as local city and county school administrators and teachers, college and university administrators in the state of Virginia, Virginia State Department of Education personnel, and off-Grounds continuing education students, among others. The variety of users has widened over the years. The Education Library serves many students from other Virginia colleges and universities as well. Students from James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University, William & Mary, University of Richmond, Mary Baldwin, and yes, even Virginia Tech, have said to the staff, "you have the best collection and resources in the state - it's worth the drive to Charlottesville". These thirty plus years have seen the linking and integration of the Education Library with the Curry School of Education forming a true partnership in action.In the Beginning...
Before 1973, Education faculty and students were located in the basement of Peabody Hall. The space was crowded, unmanageable, and not the best of conditions with faculty sharing an office. Each of the various departments within the School of Education had their own small collections of books and materials. The very first collection of education materials was the Heck Memorial Library, established in the Department of Education and named in honor of William Harry Heck (1879-1919), first professor of education. Mrs. Heck presented the University with her husband's library collection in 1921. The Heck Memorial Library's collection consisted of the University’s Dept. of Education's small collections, 2,000 volumes of Professor Heck, and 6,000 volumes added from the University Library. The total collection consisted of books and monographs, both foreign and American texts covering every field of education, a complete file of U.S. Bureau of Education publications, various national, state, and foreign documents, state school laws, State Superintendents' reports, files of the major educational periodicals, and extensive exhibits of school textbooks. A bronze plaque and Professor Heck's portrait were presented to the Department of Education and hung in the Heck Memorial Library. Over the years, space limitations in Peabody and other considerations prompted the return of the Heck Memorial Library collection to Alderman Library for inclusion into the University Library's general collection. And once again, the little departmental collections in education began to grow. Today, both the plaque and portrait are housed in the Education Library.
Planning a new building for the School of Education was begun in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Faculty moved into their new offices in Jan. 1973 and spring semester classes were held. Before the opening of Ruffner Hall, faculty voiced a strong request for the establishment of an Education Library within the new building. The Curry School of Education administrators had to go back to the plans to find space for a library once the new library was approved by the University Library administration. The third floor area was allocated for the library, but the space was not designed for a library and had to be adapted to the functions of a library with furnishings because building plans were already approved and funded. In 1972, plans were made with the University Librarian to begin selecting and transferring education materials once again out of the Alderman collection. In the spring of 1973, the selection of a new Education Librarian began. Professors Jay Chronister and Bruce Gansneder participated in the interview process and Betsy Anthony was selected as the new Education Librarian.
Chuck Frieden, Assistant Director of Circulation Services, initially headed up the new library project. Nancy Harris worked 6 months prior to the summer of 1973 in Alderman Cataloging Dept. pulling materials from the Alderman stacks, preparing labels, and revising catalog card records of approximately 9,000 volumes and 180 periodical titles. Mr. Frieden ordered the new library's furnishings and shelving. In June 1973, the details of organizing and setting up a new library became the responsibility of newly appointed Education Librarian, Betsy Anthony. Mr. Frieden gladly and eagerly turned the project and remaining work over to the new Education Librarian and her staff. Books were packed in boxes, supplies gathered, catalog cards printed and boxed, lists and more lists of things to be done were constantly being written in preparation for the opening of the new Education Library on Sept. 10,1973, the first day of classes. Not only was the library staff working feverishly to transfer all the Alderman materials, but also to catalog and add the donated collections of the Curry School of Education’s departmental libraries of Counselor Education, Higher Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education, Health and Physical Education, Administration and Supervision, and Foundations of Education.
By July 1973, there was still this empty expanse of space and only one lone "connected" telephone which sat on the carpeted floor where the circulation area would be located. The furnishings and shelving had been delayed in shipping! Toward the end of July, Dean Cyphert wandered into the empty library space, with hands stuffed in his pockets and furrowed brow, asking "are you sure you will be open the first day of classes?". With as much confidence as I could muster and a bright smile, I assured him everything would be in place and the new library would be open and available to faculty and students on Sept. 10th. The Associate Deans Soderburgh and Sanderson would come up to 3rd floor, walk around the floor space, look out of the windows to gain several perspectives of the views, smile, and leave, but thinking, "open by Sept. 10th? hmmmm". Within four weeks, a magic wand was waved accompanied by hard work and many long hours, and a complete library was assembled and readied for its opening day. The Dean, Associate Deans, and faculty were happy and elated, the Education Librarian breathed a sigh of relief, and the students eagerly entered the new library enticed by easy access to library materials. Although a lot of work remained in transferring materials, reserves had to be processed during the first month and orientations for faculty and students and bibliographic instruction for classes designed and scheduled.
The new Education Library's collection consisted of current research books and monographs with the 1968 imprint to date, the current 10 years of periodicals, all education dissertations and theses 1952 to date, and the ERIC microfiche collections with its accompanying indexes consisting of approximately 74,000 titles. Retrospective education materials remained in Alderman Library. During the first year of operation, a juvenile and young adult collection was also added. Curriculum type materials such as the Va. adopted textbooks, science and math kits, simulation games, filmstrips and other audiovisual materials were not included in the library's collection due to limited space and lack of support from University Library administrators over the acquisition and funding of such materials. And so, the library began with a staff of three: Betsy Anthony, Education Librarian, Nancy Harris, Circulation Assistant, and Sylvia Morris, Technical Services Assistant.
and continuing through the years toward the present...
The Education Library has continued to support the academic programs of the Curry School of Education and its 100 faculty and 1200 students. In the 1960's, projections of hand-held computers and other "zinging" ventures into the future were thought of as overactive imaginations. The Curry School acquired its first microcomputer in 1977 and the transformation into the electronic era began. Now, Education students can take laptop computers into their assigned intern teaching classrooms so that they can communicate with their professors on a wide variety of classroom situations and solutions while on the job. Although the library's first computer connection was through the University Library's Circulation system, its electronic venture and partnership with the Curry School occurred in 1987 with networked access connecting faculty, students, servers, computer projects such as TeacherLink, CD ROMs, and the Education Library via the ethernet. Library instruction to classes was provided in the School's IBM classroom forging new ground and serving as a model for the other U.Va. libraries in the use of computer access to library databases on CD ROMs. After a reorganization of space within the library in 1996, a new library instructional classroom was designed and equipped with 18 individual computer workstations, a projection system, and instructional access. By 2003, the Education Library had forged ahead with another first for the University libraries. A 3M self-checkout system was installed and on November 4, 2003 a ribbon-cutting event was held with the first users, Professor John Lloyd, Curry School Chief Technology Officer and Lee Hark, Education Council President, initiating this new self-service by checking out a book.
Faculty and students now have computer access to world-wide disseminated information, databases, college and university catalogs, electronic journals and many other resources via the Internet. Elementary and secondary school students communicate with students in other parts of the U.S. and the world on coordinated science and math projects. Information on all U.Va. libraries' collections is now available and accessible from the office, classroom, or home. The Curry School of Education has led the way in technological changes and the Education Library has eagerly joined in and become a partner in this transformation and ongoing electronic process.
Throughout the thirty four years, the Curry School deans, administrators, chairs of departments, and faculty have been outstanding in their support of the Education Library. Their continuing advice, ideas, and encouragement to the Education Library staff have made 34 years in the Curry School a truly successful and delightful place to "hang our hats" each day. It has been a pleasant work environment and an enjoyable association with faculty and students. The first and foremost philosophy of the Education Library staff has always been - service to users, with assistance and instruction in the use of the library's resources. This philosophy will continue in the years to come.
Betsy Anthony, Director and Education Librarian
January 2007
Helen L. (Betsy) Anthony retired as Director of the U.Va. Education Library in April 2007. She served as Director from June 1973- March 2007.