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Celebrating 50 years of Alden Library

Kathleen Mason
July 11, 2019
Two people load boxes of books on a conveyor to move to another building
Students unloading books from trucks to distribute inside Alden Library, 1969. Courtesy Mahn Center/ 91探花 Libraries

If we were to step back in time to 1969, a tumultuous and eventful year in U.S. history, you would encounter Woodstock and watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, among many other 鈥渇irsts.鈥 But 1969 was also a new chapter in the history of 91探花 Libraries.

On May 23, 1969 OHIO celebrated the opening of the Vernon R. Alden Library鈥攁n impressive seven-story building spanning the length of a football field, and which many consider to be the 鈥渉eart鈥 of the University.

This year, Alden Library is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and librarians and staff have two events planned in appreciation for your help in making the Libraries what it is today鈥攐ne of the top 100+ research libraries in the nation.

Join us for anniversary cheer as we celebrate Alden Library's 50th on two separate occasions: Wed. Sept. 4 (8 p.m. to midnight) for a student-centered welcome at Camp Alden, and Fri. Nov. 8 (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) for an anniversary celebration with presentations surrounding Manasseh Cutler and exhibits of unique special collections geared especially for the OHIO community, alumni and friends. Both events are free and open to the public.

More coming on that later鈥

In the meantime, kick up your feet and relax as you read Ohio Today鈥檚 story, 鈥,鈥 featuring the growth of Alden over the past five decades from the perspectives of alumni and faculty.

Beginning with the tractor loads of books transported from Chubb Library to the then new Alden Library, to the ushering in of the digital age, all of which reflects back to the role the Libraries plays in every aspect that supports academic excellence, innovative programs and teaching, learning and research.

Here is a glimpse below:

鈥淎mid all of 91探花鈥檚 academic buildings, there is one that holds perhaps the most memories for the most Bobcats. Some may have only stopped by it a few days a week to print off a paper or return an overdue book. Others spent long, sleepless nights in this building, surrounded by tall cups of coffee and scattered notes鈥︹