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University Library, California State University Northridge

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Coordinates: 34°14′24″N 118°31′46″W / 34.2400°N 118.5295°W / 34.2400; -118.5295
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34°14′24″N 118°31′46″W / 34.2400°N 118.5295°W / 34.2400; -118.5295

CSUN University Library
Map
LocationNorthridge, CA
TypeAcademic library
EstablishedOctober 1973
Other information
DirectorKathy Dabbour – Interim Dean, University Library
Websitelibrary.csun.edu
References: [1][2]

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

History

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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.[3][4]

Original construction of the University Library was in two phases. The first phase was opened on October 24, 1973.[5] The second, completed in 1991, nearly doubled the size with additional east and west wings.[6] Both phases were designed by the architect Leo A. Daly. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake badly damaged the building forcing the library to close.[7] The original 'phase one building' re-opened later in 1994.[8] The 'second phase wings' needed demolishing and reconstruction, and re-opened in 2000.[9]

The Library maintains its own AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System), built in 1991, with a capacity of 1.7 million volumes.[10][11][12]

Naming controversy

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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.[13][14]

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.[15] 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.[16][17] After approval from CSU Chancellor Timothy White, the name was changed to University Library in December 2020.[18][19]

Services and collections

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University Library

The University Library has a collection containing over 850,000 print volumes and nearly 1.3 million ebooks.[20] The Library also subscribes to over 200,000 journals and newspapers. A special focus is the San Fernando Valley History Collection digital archives.[21] 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[22] and Human sexuality,[23] along with the Vahdah Olcott-Bickford collection (part of IGRA: the International Guitar Research Archive),[24] the Old China Hands Archive,[25][26][27] and the Tom and Ethel Bradley Center vast collection of photographs from diverse communities of color throughout the United States and Latin America.[28] In addition, the Library's Teacher Curriculum Center provides a large circulating collection of curricular materials for education students and local educators.[29]

Film and television shooting location

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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.[30][31]

References

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  1. ^ "Architectural model of the Delmar T. Oviatt Library, ca. 1972". CSUN University Library. September 18, 2008. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  2. ^ "Library Leadership History". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "New 4-Story Library to Open Doors Feb. 16". Valley State Sundial. January 15, 1959. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Jarosz, Ellen; Kutay, Stephen (2018). California State University, Northridge. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4671-2995-4. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  5. ^ Broesamle, John (1993). Suddenly a Giant: A History of California State University, Northridge. Northridge: Santa Susanna Press. p. 76. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Broesamle, John (1993). Suddenly a Giant: A History of California State University, Northridge. Northridge: Santa Susanna Press. p. 141. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Chandler, John (May 1, 1994). "University Plans Temporary Replacement for Oviatt Library". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Peabody, Zanto (September 27, 2000). "CSUN Celebrates Library's Reopening". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  10. ^ "Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS)". CSUN University Library. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Ceremony to Dedicate Oviatt Library Oct. 24". Los Angeles Times. October 21, 1973. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Rense, Rip (February 14, 1973). "Library Named for Dr. Delmar Oviatt". Daily Sundial. Northridge, California. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Report of the Oviatt Library Advisory Working Group" (PDF). CSUN University Library. September 11, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 22, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Bozzi, Sloane (December 18, 2020). "Oviatt name removed from CSUN library, lawn effective immediately". Daily Sundial. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  19. ^ Harrison, Dianne (December 18, 2020). "CSUN Renames University Library". California State University, Northridge. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  20. ^ "Library Statistics, 2022-2023". CSUN University Library.
  21. ^ "San Fernando Valley History Digital Library". Archived from the original on 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ MacNeal, Dave (December 4, 2008). "Porn Connection: A Tale of two stashes". Daily Sundial.
  24. ^ Garcia, Julieta (2012). "Guide to the Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Collection, 1800-2008". Online Archive of California. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  25. ^ Sodders, Lisa (July 23, 2006). "Bookworms hit pay dirt at CSUN library". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  26. ^ Geiser, Jessica (2020). "Guide to the Old China Hands Oral History Project Collection". Online Archive of California. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  27. ^ "Old China Hands Recall Life in Shanghai". VOANews. October 31, 2009. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  28. ^ "Tom and Ethel Bradley Center Photographs". 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  29. ^ "Teacher Curriculum Center (TCC)". CSUN University Library. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  30. ^ Vasisht, Sukanya (September 13, 2021). "Locations That Appear In Different Movies & TV Shows". Animated Times. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  31. ^ "University Library in the Media". CSUN University Library. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
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