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Scope note: This page offers a brief history of the Social Work Library and the library services to the social work curriculum which pre-dated the existence of a Social Work Library. A chronology , album , and historical data regarding the collection and circulation of materials may also be viewed. For a history of the Hatcher Graduate Library, please see the Hatcher Showcase.
The Social Work Library was established in April 1958, to support the curriculum of the School of Social Work. Library services were provided to social work students long before 1958, however. When the undergraduate curriculum in social work was established in 1921, students used the collections of the General Library.
The above image shows the north face of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. This section opened in 1920, and was called the General Library. The General Library replaced the original library building (1883-1915) which had been declared structurally unsound. The South Addition opened in 1969. For more information on the history and design of this building, view the Hatcher Showcase.
In 1935, the undergraduate social work program in the Department of Sociology was eliminated. The graduate level social work curriculum was moved to Detroit as part of the Institute of Health and Social Sciences. Later renamed the Institute of Public and Social Administration, it was located at Rackham Center in Detroit. Library services were provided by Detroit Council of Social Agencies library, maintained by the Council and the Detroit Public Library. Located in annex adjoining the Institute, this library existed from 1935-1937. In 1938, the collections of Detroit Council of Social Agencies library were transferred to Detroit Public Library. Since the Detroit Public Library was some distance away from the social work program, the Curriculum subsequently purchased approximately 1000 books from funds appropriated from the University general fund. No continuing funds were appropriated, though, so it was a temporary solution to a long term problem. The proximity problem was resolved in February 1941, when the UM Detroit Library opened in the Rackham Educational Memorial Building. Mrs. E. G. Mainwood, librarian, provided library services to the Curriculum in Social Work, including cataloging of the Curriculum's collection. In 1945, the Institute of Social Work was formed from the restructuring of the Institute of Public and Social Administration. Library services were provided by UM Detroit Library, Miss Grace C. Beebe, librarian.
In 1951, the Institute of Social Work was reconstituted as the School of Social Work, a school within the University of Michigan structure. Headquarters were moved to 820 W. Washington, Ann Arbor, across the street from the Rackham School of Graduate Studies. When Ann Arbor classes began in September 1951, students again used the General Library. Open-shelf reserves were provided in a first floor study hall of General Library with oversight of a trained librarian. On October 8, 1952 a satellite of the General Library, the Social Science Library, opened in Mason Hall with 20,981 volumes. Its collection supported the Departments of Psychology, Journalism, and the School of Social Work. Seating was available in its reading room for over 100 readers. A basic social work program also continued in Detroit, with library services for this curriculum provided by UM Detroit Library, Mrs. Erma B. Golden, librarian.
In April 1957, the expanding School of Social Work moved into the Frieze Building. One year later, the Social Work Library opened in 2068 Frieze with a base collection of 4500 volumes. The library space was designed by David Maxwell of the University Library. The first librarian was Edward Weber, who had a half-time appointment.
Pictured above, the first Social Work Library was located at 2068 Frieze, overlooking Washington Street (the windows are obscured by the tree, just above the stop sign). This space was later renovated and used as the Social Work Dean's suite. The library had 5 tables and 30 chairs to serve a student population of about 200. The library was initially open 36.5 hours/week.
In 1958, the Social Science Library in Mason Hall closed, and 2900 volumes from that collection were transferred to the Social Work Library, now in the Frieze Building. In 1959, Mrs. H. Inada became the librarian. In the school year 1959/1960, open hours increased several times to 59 hours/week. Mrs. Inada was succeeded in 1960 by William Morgan. From 1962-1968, Mrs. Pearl Chandler served as librarian. Mrs. Chandler oversaw the planning and renovation of a larger space for the Social Work Library, located on the north side of the building.
In June 1966, the Social Work Library moved to Room 1548 on the north side of the Frieze Building (pictured above) facing Huron Street, taking over space used by the University Audio-Visual Education facility. When Ann Arbor High School first opened in 1907, this space was used as the Children's Library of the Ann Arbor Public Library. Construction of this part of the building was funded by a grant of $30,000 from the Carnegie Foundation.
In February 1969, Mrs. Christina Whitehurst Neal became the first full-time Social Work librarian. Under her supervision, the library collection and services expanded greatly. The reading room, which had a total capacity of 115 persons, were overflowing with students. In 1976, 2547 Frieze was furnished as an third reading room of the Social Work Library, with additional seating space for 30. This was possible with funding from the Winkelman family, in memory of Leon and Josephine Winkelman. A few years later, the extra reading room was unfortunately lost to the Speech Department. Other renovations included carpeting and painting of the library itself. A lift was installed in May 1986 to improve accessibility, since there were three steps down at the main entrance. Computers and computing technology came to the library in the 1980s. In 1982, a fee-based computer search service became available. Citations to articles were retrieved by the librarian through either Dialogue or BRS services. Library staff received the first microcomputer for office use in 1985. In 1988, the first stage of Mirlyn was implemented. Two computers (later increased to 5) were added for public use, to access the Mirlyn catalog. Mrs. Neal retired on June 30, 1989.
In 1989 significant of changes took place. Darlene Nichols was appointed interim librarian, beginning in September 1989. She was appointed librarian on a half-time basis the following year, and continued as the professional in the facility until December 1997. In the summer and fall of 1989, the library staff prepared the entire collection for online checkout, which actually became an inventory of the collection. Other libraries on campus had online checkout systems since the 1970s, but the Social Work Library had maintained a manual card-signing system until the Mirlyn checkout module was implemented in December 1989. During the 1990s, various indexes to the periodical literature were added to the Mirlyn system. Online fee-based searching ceased as library staff instructed users on how to search Mirlyn. Library staff began to develop a rudimentary web site to provide information about services and to pull together various electronic resources.
In October 1990, a Comprehensive Information Resource Center Program Statement was issued by the Ad Hoc Committee on the "Library of the Future". This report provided recommendations for library space and services for the new School of Social Work, which was still in the early planning stages. The Comprehensive Information Resource Center (CIRC) was envisioned as a space which blended library resources and computing resources in an electronic environment. From 1990-1997, plans for the new facility were developed.
In early January 1998, the Social Work Library moved into the new facility at B700 School of Social Work. The Library was the first occupant of the new building. Social Work administrative offices moved to the new building in March, and the first classes were held in the Social Work building beginning with the 1998/1999 school year.
The library's second full-time librarian was Karen Reiman-Sendi, July 1998-April 2005. Two part-time public services librarians also joined the staff, Sally Haines (December 2000) and Barbara Beaton (October 2004). There are three other permanent staff and 5-10 student assistants/semester. The library has an extensive website, and offers reference assistance and formal instruction on using library resources.
The library's third full-time librarian is Jennifer Nason Davis (May 2005-present).
Content last updated on: 24 March 2006
Social Work Library | (734) 764-5169 | social.work.library@umich.edu
B700 School of Social Work Building, 1080 S. University, Ann Arbor MI 48109-1106
