Milner Library is Illinois State University own academic library utilized by the students attending the university. Milner Library was founded in 1890 thirty-three years after the opening of Illinois State University. Milner Library is located 201 N. School Street, Normal, Illinois. The library has six floors in total each having different uses for each floor. Each floor area is devoted to a different discipline (academia). The library also houses over 1.5 million books as well a handful of copies of electronic serial titles and print journal titles. The library itself was named after Angeline Vernon Milner, a resident of Bloomington, Illinois and the first full-time librarian for Illinois State University from the years of 1890 to 1928.[1]
Milner Library | |
---|---|
Location | 201 N. School Street, Normal, Illinois |
Established | 1890 |
Collection | |
Size | 1,622,355 Print Volumes
81,448 Electronic Serial Titles 1,927 Print Journal Titles |
Other information | |
Employees | 84 Workers |
Website | http://library.illinoisstate.edu/ |
Location
editMilner Library is located 201 N. School Street, Normal, Illinois. The Library itself is located across from the Bone Student Center on College Ave.[2]
History
editIn 1892, North Hall was the home of Illinois State University's first official library. Angeline Milner was the first official full-time librarian for the library. As time went on, in 1940, Williams Hall became the the new resting place for the University's library. It wasn't until in 1981, Williams Hall was to be reconstructed to the College of Business. So again, Illinois State University's library need another place to move. However in 1976, the university constructed a separate building for the library itself. That is also when the library was official named after Angeline Vernon to be called Milner Library. The current library, is now the third in the university's history which continues to this day operate in the same location.[3]
Library's Name
editMilner Library is named after Angeline Vernon Milner, a Bloomington, Illinois native. Angeline Milner became connected with Illinois State University with her employment by Stephen Forbes, chief of the Illinois Natural History. There Milner began her own study of library science. In 1889 former President of Illinois State University, Edwin Hewett was given permission by the Board combine several small libraries of books on campus to make one main library for the school and hire a full-time librarian. Milner was recommended for the position by Forbes. In 1890, Milner was official hired and was considered the first full-time librarian for Illinois State University. It was said during her time working, she had to manage over 40,000 volumes of books with four assistants and a handful of student assistants. Milner worked for 38 years until she her health forced her retirement on October 15, 1927. Her passion and dedication working as the first full-time librarian made Illinois State University have the library named after herself.[4]
Mission and Vision Statements
editMilner Library has a mission statement that reads, "The mission of ISU Libraries is to create and sustain an intuitive and trusted information environment that enables learning and the advancement of knowledge in a culturally and technologically superior setting. ISU Libraries’ staff are committed to developing innovative services, programs, space, strategies, and systems that promote discovery, dialogue, learning, and the human spirit." Milner Library also has a vision statement that reads, "To be preeminent center of learning, information, culture, and technology in higher education."[5]
Floors
editMilner Library has six floors in total that organized into broad subject areas. These subject areas range from general services to onsite storage facilities to materials for all different branches of studies.[6]
Floor One
editFloor one of the Milner Library holds the library's onsite storage facility for materials from all the materials in the library collection. Most of the time this area of the floor is closed off to the public. If students need something, they are to visit the Reference Desk to request storage materials from floor one. Floor one also houses room 164D, one of the two instructional classrooms the library has to offer.
Floor Two
editFloor two of the Milner Library houses the general service areas for the entire library. In terms of services, there are the Reference Desk, the Circulation and Service Desks. The second floor also holds the Milner Computer Lab containing 110 computer lab workstations. Floor two also holds the second instructional classroom 213C.
Reference Desk
editThe Reference Desk has many librarians as well as staff to answer question and to help students develop their skills in using the library. The Reference Desk has their own reference staff to help anyone use the online catalog and other computer systems, answer question, searchindexes, locate materials, and help develop search strategies in utilizing the sources from all the floors on the library.
Circulation and Reserve Desk
editThe Circulation Desk is used for all materials being checked out from and returned to the Milner Library. A bar-coded ID or another appropriate identifiaction must be presented to check out any form of library materials. Materials can be requested from other library's and can be picked up at the Circulation Desk. Special reading materials requested by certain teachers or professors for class assignments are available at the Reserve Desk.
Floor Three
editFloor three of the Milner Library holds all the materials for psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and history. The floor also holds the Library Administration offices.
Floor Four
editFloor four of the Milner Library holds all the materials for business, economy, history, political science, sociology, social work, law, criminal justice, geography/maps, and Government Documents. The Map Collection houses major U.S. and Canadian topographic maps, geological maps of many states and counties. The collection also holds aerial photographs, road maps and recreations literature.
Floor Five
editFloor five of the Milner Library holds all the materials for agriculture, information technology, biological sciences, chemistry, health sciences, home economics, industrial technology, mathematics, physics, photography, and military science. Additional resources are available for clinical psychology, environmental health, geology, occupational safety, physical education, speech pathology, and audiology.
Floor Six
editFloor six holds all the materials for various formats whether that be print, audio, video, or computer on education. It also holds those formats for music, art, film, language, literature and theater. Floor six is also the home to Special Collections/Rare Book Room, the Picture File, and the Teaching Materials Center (TMC).
Teaching Materials Center
editThe TMC holds a huge collection of instructional materials including textbooks, books for children and young adults, and audiovisual materials intended for use by students from preschool through grade twelve. Materials for teachers' professional use include activity books, curriculum guides, teaching aids, publishers' catalogs, and a lot of standardized test. This place is utilized by students who are in the teaching field.
Special Collections/Rare Book Room
editThe Special Collections houses a lot materials on the circus and allied arts book collection. The allied arts book collection contains works of several British and American authors as well as the Lincoln Collection of Harold K. Sage. the allied arts book collection also holds subject collections in drama, humor, history of printing, historical children's literature and textbooks, works from small private presses, 18th and 19th century operatic scores, and finally limited edition and fine bindings. As the names imply, these works of literature and art are rare and are treasured by Milner Library.
References
edit- ^ http://library.illinoisstate.edu/library-information/
- ^ http://library.illinoisstate.edu/library-information/directions/
- ^ http://library.illinoisstate.edu/unique-collections/history-digital/ISU-history/online/grounds.php
- ^ http://mchistory.org/research/resources/angeline-vernon-milner.php
- ^ http://library.illinoisstate.edu/library-information/about/mission-vision.php
- ^ http://library.illinoisstate.edu/library-information/floor-maps/