University Library, California State University Northridge

Coordinates: 34°14′24″N 118°31′46″W / 34.240029°N 118.529499°W / 34.240029; -118.529499
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Oviatt library)

34°14′24″N 118°31′46″W / 34.240029°N 118.529499°W / 34.240029; -118.529499

CSUN University Library
Map
LocationNorthridge, CA
TypeAcademic library
EstablishedOctober 1973
Collection
Items collected1,390,052 total volumes
Size1,106,611 books
Other information
Budget$7,756,882
DirectorMark Stover – Dean, University Library
Employees94
Websitelibrary.csun.edu
References: [1][2][3][4]

The University Library at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is located in Northridge, in the northern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California.

History[edit]

Construction for the original library began on November 14, 1957, marking it as the college's first permanent campus building. Students were permitted to use the building beginning on February 16, 1959, and the library had its official opening on March 3. The library featured four floors, 200,000 books and a capacity of approximately 15,000 people. The library was heavily damaged during the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake, making it necessary for the closure of the upper floors of the library for repair and organization.[5][6]

Original construction of the University Library was in two phases. The first phase was opened on October 24, 1973.[7] The second, completed in 1991, nearly doubled the size with additional east and west wings.[8] Both phases were designed by the architect Leo A. Daly. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake badly damaged the building forcing the library to close.[9] The original 'phase one building' re-opened later in 1994.[10] The 'second phase wings' needed demolishing and reconstruction, and re-opened in 2000.[11]

The Library maintains its own AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System), built in 1991, with a capacity of 1.7 million volumes.[12][13][14]

Naming controversy[edit]

The library was originally named for Delmar T. Oviatt, former vice president for Academic Affairs, who was involved in the founding of San Fernando Valley State College, CSUN's predecessor.[15][16]

In 2019, CSUN president Dianne F. Harrison appointed a campus committee to investigate whether the Oviatt Library should be renamed due to allegations of racism.[17] In fall 2020, the Oviatt Library Advisory Working Group presented its findings to President Harrison, the Associated Students Senate, and the CSUN Faculty Senate, recommending that the name of Delmar T. Oviatt be removed from the University Library.[18][19] After approval from CSU Chancellor Timothy White, the name was changed to University Library in December 2020.[20][21]

Services and collections[edit]

University Library

The University Library has a physical collection containing 1.3 million print volumes, of which over one million are books, and over 249,000 bound periodical volumes.[22] The Library subscribes to over 84,000 online journals, 200 online databases, and approximately 500,000 e-books. The microform collection contains 3.1 million pieces. There are over 14,000 sound recordings, and over 60,000 film and video recordings. A special focus is the San Fernando Valley History Collection digital archives.[23] The Special Collections & Archives section of the University Library has many archival collections of important primary source documents including a large collection of materials on LGBTQ[24] and Human sexuality,[25] along with the Vahdah Olcott-Bickford collection (part of IGRA: the International Guitar Research Archive),[26] the Old China Hands Archive,[27][28][29] and the Tom and Ethel Bradley Center vast collection of photographs from diverse communities of color throughout the United States and Latin America.[30] In addition, the Library's Teacher Curriculum Center provides a large circulating collection of curricular materials for education students and local educators.[31]

Film and television shooting location[edit]

The University Library has served as a shooting location for numerous films and television series, including Star Trek, Sky High, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, The Middle, and The Orville. It was also one of the filming locations for the music video Intentions by Justin Bieber.[32]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Architectural model of the California State University Library, ca. 1972". Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  2. ^ "Library Statistics 2013-2014". Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Library Budget/General Fund 2009-2010". Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  4. ^ "Library Administration". 2 November 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  5. ^ "New 4-Story Library to Open Doors Feb. 16". Valley State Sundial. January 15, 1959. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  6. ^ Jarosz, Ellen; Kutay, Stephen (2018). California State University, Northridge. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing.
  7. ^ Broesamle, John (1993). Suddenly a Giant: A History of California State University, Northridge. Northridge: Santa Susanna Press. p. 76.
  8. ^ Broesamle, John (1993). Suddenly a Giant: A History of California State University, Northridge. Northridge: Santa Susanna Press. p. 141.
  9. ^ Chandler, John. "University Plans Temporary Replacement for Oviatt Library." Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1994.
  10. ^ Moran, Julio (August 26, 1994). "One for the Books : Ceremony Will Mark Reopening of CSUN's Oviatt Library". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  11. ^ Peabody, Zanto (September 27, 2000). "CSUN Celebrates Library's Reopening". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ "library.csun.edu". digital-library.csun.edu. 13 May 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  13. ^ Chu, Henry (October 25, 1991). "Robotic Library : Information: CSUN students and staff can request selections through computers and have them delivered automatically". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  14. ^ Kovalcik, Justin; Villalobos, Mike (2019). "Automated Storage & Retrieval System". Information Technology and Libraries. 38 (4): 114–124. doi:10.6017/ital.v38i4.11273. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  15. ^ "Ceremony to Dedicate Oviatt Library Oct. 24". Los Angeles Times. October 21, 1973.
  16. ^ Rense, Rip (February 14, 1973). "Library Named for Dr. Delmar Oviatt". Daily Sundial. Northridge, California. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  17. ^ Mayorquin, Orlando; Moran-Perez, Gillian (June 25, 2020). "CSUN considers renaming Oviatt Library after students claim Delmar T. Oviatt was racist". Daily Sundial. Northridge, California. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  18. ^ "Report of the Oviatt Library Advisory Working Group" (PDF). California State University, Northridge. September 11, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  19. ^ Carter, Shannon (November 10, 2020). "Oviatt Library Advisory Group recommends removing Delmar T. Oviatt's name; AS Senate votes in solidarity". Daily Sundial. Northridge, California. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  20. ^ Bozzi, Sloane (December 18, 2020). "Oviatt name removed from CSUN library, lawn effective immediately". Daily Sundial. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  21. ^ Harrison, Dianne (December 18, 2020). "CSUN Renames University Library". California State University, Northridge. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  22. ^ "Library Statistics, 2019-2020 | CSUN University Library". 21 February 2014.
  23. ^ "San Fernando Valley History Digital Library". Archived from the original on 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  24. ^ Rojas, Victor Hugo (February 4, 2020). "CSUN Library's Special Collections offers Students a Chance to Connect with LGBTQ History". CSUN Today. CSUN. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  25. ^ MacNeal, Dave (December 4, 2008). "Porn Connection: A Tale of two stashes". Daily Sundial.
  26. ^ Garcia, Julieta (2012). "Guide to the Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Collection, 1800-2008" (PDF). Online Archive of California. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  27. ^ Sodders, Lisa (July 23, 2006). "Bookworms hit pay dirt at CSUN library". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  28. ^ Geiser, Jessica (2020). "Guide to the Old China Hands Oral History Project Collection" (PDF). Online Archive of California. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  29. ^ "Old China Hands Recall Life in Shanghai". VOANews. October 31, 2009. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  30. ^ "Tom and Ethel Bradley Center Photographs". 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  31. ^ "Featured: The Teacher Curriculum Center". Oviatt Library eNews. Spring 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  32. ^ "Oviatt Library in the Media". library.csun.edu. California State University, Northridge. 12 August 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2013.

External links[edit]