The Library of the Graduate Theological Union
The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library is one of the largest theological
libraries in the United States. Its holdings, including the holdings
of its branch library at the San Francisco Theological Seminary,
total to over 410,000 volumes and 285,000 microforms, audio and
video cassettes, and other media. The library collection reflects
the ecumenical spectrum of the GTU and the diversity of world-wide
religious groups. The collection has not only the breadth to support
a full range of theological education programs, but also considerable
depth in many areas of religion and theological inquiry.
A Brief History
Before the GTU and its library came into existence, the seminaries
of the Bay Area and of California engaged in a number of cooperative
library programs. The earliest cooperation began around the turn
of the century as denominations located their seminaries in Berkeley
to be close to the University of California, and its educational
and library resources. The Western Theological Library Association
was begun in 1954 by J. Stillson Judah, Librarian of the Pacific
School of Religion. Cooperative project included union catalogs
and periodical lists.
The GTU was incorporated in 1962. In 1963, Dean John Dillenberger
appointed a GTU Library Committee. A consultant was called in to
study and report on library needs for the member institutions. The
"Tanis Report" provided three alternatives for library facilities.
The Committee's decision was for one of the alternatives, and established
the GTU Bibliographical Center in 1964. The Center was not a library,
but performed specific functions for the GTU member schools' libraries.
Operating from the building at 2465 LeConte, the Center created
a union catalog, assembled a reference collection, and set up procedures
for cooperative book selection, ordering, and cataloging.
The Library Committee continued to plan and negotiate. In 1969,
the GTU Common Library was established and moved into temporary
quarters in the basement of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific.
J. Stillson Judah was appointed Librarian. Seven schools signed
the agreement (Pacific School of Religion joined in 1980, and Starr
King School for the Ministry in 1982). The staff of the new library
faced the daunting task of integrating seven separate library collections.
This procedure was complicated by the existence of several different
call-number schemes, and numerous duplicate copies of books.
Plans continued for the needs of the Library and the GTU. The site
for a new library building at the corner of Ridge and Scenic was
purchased from the American Baptist Seminary of the West and the
San Francisco Theological Seminary. The lot was known as the "Wilson
Property". Under Dean and President Claude Welch, the new building
was envisioned as a major physical symbol of the common effort of
the Graduate Theological Union.
In 1972, the architect, Louis I. Kahn was chosen to design a library
and administration building. Kahn's architectural philosophy understood
the needs of the client and the purpose of the building, but also
stressed the art of his work. He saw a building as an environment
of space and light, and as the personification of the nature and
purpose of its use. He was very interested in expressing the inspiration
to learn and to question in institutions of learning and of religion.
These were the ideas he brought to his work for the GTU Library.
(The drawings for Louis Kahn's original design for the library are
at the
Architectural Archives of the University of Pennsylvania.) Kahn
completed preliminary designs, but died suddenly in 1974. The GTU
then selected the architectural firm of Peters, Clayberg and Caulfield,
in association with Esherick, Homsey, Dodge, and Davis, to carry
on the project Kahn inspired.
The process for building permits was difficult. Neighborhood and
student groups opposed the new construction. After many delays,
permits were granted, the existing structure demolished and the
site prepared. It was now 1979, and the building fund was not enough
to cover the cost. The GTU Board of Trustees decided to build the
library in two Phases. Phase I construction consisting of the basement
and Level I began in 1979, and was completed in 1981. Judah had
retired and John Baker-Batsel was appointed Librarian in 1977. Under
his direction, volunteer crews of students, faculty, trustees, and
staff moved approximately 300,000 volumes from the Church Divinity
School of the Pacific basement and from the Pacific School of Religion
library into the new half-completed building.
Michael Blecker became President in 1982 with a mandate to complete
the building. He mounted a capital campaign to raise funds. Phase
II construction of Levels II, to complete the Library, and III,
to house GTU administration offices, began in 1985 and was completed
1987. Acknowledging a substantial contribution from the Hewlett
Foundation, the GTU Common Library was named the Flora Lamson Hewlett
Library in May 1987.
The next major project for the Library was automation. The Library
joined RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network) when it began
in 1977. This is a national library cataloging database. Acquisitions
began automated ordering in 1986. On John Baker-Batsel's retirement,
Mary Williams became Library Director in 1990. The on-line catalog,
named GRACE (GTU Reference Access Catalog Experience), was opened
in 1992. When circulation functions went on-line in 1993, library
automation was complete. In 1998, the library changed bibliographic
utilities, dropping RLIN and subscribing to OCLC.
After Williams' retirement in 1997.and an extensive search, Bonnie
Hardwick was appointed Director in 1999. An ever-growing collection
and ever-advancing technological innovations necessitated renovations
in the library, 2000-01. Compact shelving was installed on Level
I to increase available shelving. A Teaching Lab was built on Level
II providing Library staff and GTU faculty electronic classroom
capabilities using advanced technological teaching tools.
Lucinda Glenn
Archivist
November 1997; Revised: January 1998, November 2001
Last updated May 30, 2001
|
