Fonds UA-23 - Dalhousie University Libraries fonds

Dalhousie College library catalogue Photograph of the Halifax Infirmary The Halifax Infirmary Vederala's notebook Photograph of the interior of the Kellogg Library Photograph of the circulation desk in the Kellogg Library Photograph of the staircase and stacks in the Kellogg Library Photograph of back offices in the Kellogg Library Photograph of a meeting room in the Kellogg Library Photograph of work stations in the Kellogg Library Regulations of the Patterson Travelling Library Patterson Travelling Library book list for 1931-1938 Patterson Travelling Library Catalogue Dalhousie Libraries annual reports, 2018-2019 Patterson Travelling Libraries patron list Senate Library Committee : review of University Archives, 1989-1990 Correspondence regarding the Senate review of the University Archives Photograph of items packed in preparation for the Killam Library reference office renovation Photograph of the 2001 renovation of the Killam Library's reference room Photograph of the Killam Library reference room just prior to renovation in 2001 Photograph of the Killam Library reference room just prior to renovation in 2001 Photograph of the Killam Library reference room just prior to renovation in 2001 Photograph of men working on then2001 renovation the Killam reference room Photograph taken during the 2001 renovation of the Killam reference room Photograph of the Killam reference room just prior to the 2001 renovation Photograph of workspace dividers going up during the 2001 renovation of the Killam Library refere... Photograph of the newly renovated Killam Library reference room Photograph of offices in the newly renovated Killam Library reference room Photograph of librarian Fran Nowakoski in her office in the newly renovated Killam reference room Photograph of a draped furniture unit waiting for installation during the 2001 renovation of the ... Photograph of a computer in the Killam Memorial Library Photograph of a classroom in the Killam Memorial Library Photograph of the photocopy room in the Killam Memorial Library Photograph of the entry security gates to the Killam Memorial Library Photograph of the Science Reference Desk at the Killam Memorial Library, Dalhousie University Photograph of a row of books drying out in the corridor after the 1998 Killam fire Photograph of boxes of files and binders rescued during the fire at the 1998 Killam Library Photograph of records damaged in the 1998 Killam Library fire Photograph of files and boxes removed from shelving after the 1998 fire in the Killam Library Photograph of books damaged in the 1998 Killam Library fire drying on a table Photograph of piles of damaged documents from the 1998 Killam fire Photograph of fire damaged shelves in the Killam Library Photograph of a library cart of books damaged in the 1998 Killam Library fire Photograph of Oxford Street showing the National Research Council, Dalhousie Universities Storage... Postcard of the Killam Memorial Library courtyard in winter Photograph of the exterior of the Killam Memorial Library, Dalhousie University Photograph of the entrance to the Killam Memorial Library, Dalhousie University Photograph of the circulation desk in the Killam Memorial Library, Dalhousie University Photograph of computer terminals at the Killam Memorial Library, Dalhousie University Photograph of the current serials display in the McNab Reading Room in the Killam Memorial Library
Results 1 to 50 of 387 Show all

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Dalhousie University Libraries fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record

Parallel title

Other title information

Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

UA-23

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

Physical description area

Physical description

50 m of textual records and other material

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

Parallel titles of publisher's series

Other title information of publisher's series

Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series

Numbering within publisher's series

Note on publisher's series

Archival description area

Name of creator

(1867 -)

Biographical history

The first Dalhousie library was established by order of the University Senate on 24 April 1867. Housed in the “new” Dalhousie College (renamed the Forrest Building in 1919), the library was beset by financial difficulties during the early decades, especially after the Board’s 1890 decision to withdraw all library funding. During this period the collection grew only through gifts in kind and sporadic donations by faculty and alumni, although 1894 witnessed both the advent of class memorial book gifts and the hiring of paid library staff, which led to expanded service hours, from two to seven hours per day, five days each week.

In 1916 a library was built on the new Studley Campus, thanks to the generosity of Professor Charles Macdonald. On his death in 1906, the former Chair of Mathematics bequeathed $2000 to the university for books, a gesture that triggered an eponymous fundraising campaign. Despite several renovations and later additions, eventually the collection and its user population outgrew the space, and in 1971 the Killam Library was opened.

From 1867 until the 1952 appointment of Douglas G. Lockhead, the library's operations were overseen by a Senate-appointed committee, which appointed an acting librarian, usually from the ranks of newly arrived junior faculty. Their responsibilities were limited to collecting fines, providing access to the library's limited book collection, and placing orders approved by Senate. Faculty librarians included James DeMille (1868-1875); Professor Liechti (1875-1876); Reverend Dr. William Lyall (1876-1881); John Forrest (1881-1885); Jacob Schurman (1885-1886); William Alexander (1886-1889); James Seth (1889-1892); Walter Murray (1892-1902); Daniel Murray (1902-1906); and Archibald MacMechan (1906-1931).

The first paid assistant librarian was Zillah Macdonald in 1894, followed by a series of part-time student assistants and finally, in 1907, a full-time assistant. In 1915 Francis Jean Lindsay was hired as a cataloguer. She was the main library's first trained librarian and in her three years at Dalhousie she reclassified the entire collection according to the new Library of Congress system, increased the library's opening hours to 44 hours a week, initiated circulation procedures and wrote a column in the Gazette. President MacKenzie referred to her as being in charge of the library, albeit without authority over policies, collections or budget, and her low salary led to her resignation in 1919. Her work was continued by a series of untrained library assistants.

During the tenure of C.L. Bennett (1931-1950), who was the last Library Committee faculty member to oversee the library, operations were in the hands of librarians Ivy Prickler (1940-47); Dorothy MacKay (1947-1951); and Jean Carter (1951-1952). Douglas G. Lochhead (1952-1960) was Dalhousie's first University Librarian, appointed with faculty status and directly responsible to the university president. He was followed by J.P. Wilkinson (1960-1966); Louis G. Vagianos (1966-1969) and as Director of Libraries (1976-1973); Dorothy Louise Cooke (1970-1981); William F. Birdsall (1981-1997); and William R. Maes (1998-2010). During the tenure of Donna Bourne-Tyson (2010-2022), the position of University Librarian changed to Dean of Libraries.The second Dean of Libraries, Michael Vandenberg, was appointed in August 2022.

Custodial history

Records were donated to the Dalhousie University Archives in 42 accessions through departmental transfers between 1984 and 2018; one donation by Ian Colford (Accession 2004-004); and transfers from the MacRae Library beginning in 2012.

Scope and content

Fonds consists of administrative and departmental documents pertaining to the University libraries, including records created and collected by Dalhousie prior to the existence of a university library. Records dating prior to the existence of the Killam Library are maintained in a series called Dalhousie College and University Library Early Records.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script note

English

Location of originals

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

There are no access restrictions on these materials. All materials are open for research.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Materials do not circulate and must be used in the Archives and Special Collections Reading Room. Materials may be under copyright. Contact departmental staff for guidance on reproduction.

Finding aids

Associated materials

Related materials

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

General note

Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Dalhousie University Libraries fonds, UA-23, Box [box number], Folder [folder number], Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Alternative identifier(s)

Standard number area

Standard number

Access points

Subject access points

Name access points

Accession area