History of VCU Libraries

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When Virginia Commonwealth University began operating on July 1, 1968, it inherited the two existing libraries from its predecessor institutions, the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) and the Richmond Professional Institute (RPI). Although RPI President George Oliver had appointed N. Harvey Deal to be director of all libraries for the new university, Deal's untimely death in March of 1970 precluded the development of a university-wide library system. That task fell to his successor Gerard B. McCabe who arrived at VCU in August of 1970 and took steps to mold the two former college library operations into one. During the formative years of the entity known as the University Libraries, the administration and the staff focused on the construction of what would become the James Branch Cabell Library on the old RPI campus and a major expansion of what was then known as the Tompkins-McCaw Library on the MCV Campus. When the buildings were completed in 1975, they provided collection space for a million and a half volumes and seats for 2,500 users. With these expanded facilities, the University Libraries embarked on an aggressive collection-building campaign and the expansion of services to meet the needs of a growing urban research university.

To manage its collections and services more expeditiously, University Libraries purchased its first computer system in 1981. By automating operations over the next decade, the organization, now known to the VCU community as University Library Services (ULS) and led by Dr. William Judd, survived staffing and budget cuts of the 1980s. Two major administrative reorganizations in this time frame, including mergers of functional departments across library buildings and the addition of the university’s media production service to library operations, sustained ULS and provided new opportunities for programming, services, and fundraising.

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ULS had even more opportunities to support the teaching, learning, research, and patient care mission of the university in the early 1990s with the arrival of VCU’s fourth president, Dr. Eugene Trani and a new library director, Barbara Ford. The adoption of a new integrated library system in 1990 allowed ULS to offer remote searching of not only the library’s catalog but bibliographic databases supporting the research enterprise. ULS subscribed to its first online journal, secured a new collection funding formula, constructed computer classrooms within its buildings, created its first web pages, initiated its digital library, compiled a portfolio of public and private grants, and celebrated the addition of the millionth volume to its collection all before the 20th century came to a close.

ULS entered the 21st century under new leadership and with a new name, the VCU Libraries. With John Ulmschneider at the helm for almost two decades, the VCU Libraries matured and took its place at the heart of VCU, both physically and intellectually, with the awarding-winning expanded Cabell Library, the robust electronic and digital collections, and the outstanding services provided by a dedicated and knowledgeable faculty and staff. As the VCU Libraries enters its sixth decade, it continues to build on its strong foundation and expand its role in support of student success, teaching, experiential learning, research, and patient care under the leadership of Dr. Irene Herold.

VCU Libraries Timeline

1968

University Libraries is created with the formation of Virginia Commonwealth University
N. Harvey Deal is appointed first director of libraries

1969

Librarians begin conducting bibliographic searches for faculty and staff

1970

Cabell Library opens, replacing the former Richmond Professional Institute Library in the old Anderson Gallery
Virginia Medical Information System (VAMIS) is established at Tompkins-McCaw Library to facilitate the dissemination of information to health care practitioners
Gerard B. McCabe is appointed Director of University Libraries

1971

Coin operated copy machines are installed in the libraries
University Libraries becomes a Federal Depository Library for U.S. Government Publications
Librarians begin online searching through Bibliographic Retrieval Services (BRS)

1973

Automated checkout of library materials begins, using computer punch cards

1974

New addition to the Tompkins-McCaw Library is dedicated

1975

University Libraries begins cataloging through OCLC, a national cataloging collaborative
Top three floors of Cabell Library are completed
Special Collections and Archives departments are organized in both libraries

1976

Cabell Library is formally dedicated
Clinical Medical Librarian program begins

1977

Union catalog created for Cabell and Tompkins-McCaw libraries

1979

Book Art Collection is established

1980

Computer Output Microfiche (COM) catalog is initiated

1981

University Library Services (ULS) is created by combining the University Libraries and the Visual Education Department

1983

William J. Judd becomes director of ULS
Automated circulation using Data Phase Automated Library Information System (ALIS) begins
Friends of the Library is organized in May
Libraries receive a portion of grant overhead funds for the first time

1984

Staff desktop computers are installed

1985

Academic Computing moves into the basement of Cabell Library
Cabell Library is designated first official U. S. Patent Depository Library in Virginia
End-user database searching begins
Renovation of room 230 in Cabell Library for staff areas

1986

Online public access catalog (ALIS) is introduced
Library Development Office is created

1988

Serials cancellation project where approximately 1650 titles cancelled

1989

VCU Libraries is designated as Virginia's AIDS resource library

1990

Library offers service via email
Library sets up Local Area Network (LAN)
MEDLINE available on the library's catalog platform for end-user searching
NOTIS integrated library system is implemented

1991

Barbara Ford becomes director of ULS

1992

Libraries subscribe to its first electronic journal, Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials
New university funding model is put in place to support building research collections

1993

One millionth volume added to the collection

1994

Libraries founding member of the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA)

1995

VCU Libraries first web page
Tompkins-McCaw Library consolidates public services and opens a single-service point
VCU Card is used for circulation

1997-1998

Barbara Ford serves as president of the American Library Association

1998

"My Library" personalized web page option is offered to the VCU community
New computer classroom TompCAT opens at Tompkins-McCaw
VCUQatar opens a library

1999

Electronic Course Reserve service begins
John Ulmschneider becomes the University Librarian

2000

ULS becomes VCU Libraries

2001

First electronic theses and dissertations are added to the collections
My Library Record service begins where VCU users may view their circulation record and renew books online
VCU Libraries initiates a chat service to help patrons with their information needs

2002

Cabell and Tompkins-McCaw Libraries are renovated and coffee bars are opened in each building
First Lady Laura Bush dedicates the Community Health Education Center (CHEC) in the new Gateway Building

2003

VCU Libraries adopts ALEPH 500 integrated library system for acquisitions, circulation, reserves, and other library functions

2005-2006

Jean Shipman serves as president of the Medical Library Association

2007

Opening of renovated Cabell Special Collections and Archives and the John Mapp Graduate Study Room
Starbucks opens at Cabell Library

2009

Two millionth volume is added to the collection
Off-site storage facility created at 500 Academic Center

2010

Learning Commons at Cabell Library opens

2011

Tompkins-McCaw Library opens its first floor gallery for exhibits of visual art pertaining to the health sciences or art created by students or professionals in health-sciences fields

2012

Cabell Library resumes chat and introduces text reference services
Cabell Library adopts a 24-hour a day schedule, Sunday through Thursday during the academic year

2013

VCU Libraries is the third North American library to adopt Ex Libris's ALMA/Primo, a unified resource-management system
VCU Libraries hires a director of research data management
Cabell Library consolidates service desks into a single service point
Tompkins- McCaw Library launches the Women's Health Research Portal in collaboration with the VCU Institute for Women's Health

2014

Scholar's Compass, the VCU Libraries's digital publishing platform, is launched

2015

New Cabell Library addition opens
The Workshop (studio space, creative computing and makerspace) opens in Cabell Library

2016

Cabell Library is named a New Landmark Library by Library Journal

2016-2017

Teresa Knott serves as president of the Medical Library Association

2018

VCU Libraries becomes the 125th member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL)
VCU Libraries receives the 2018 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)

2020

The Tompkins-McCaw Library receives the 2020 Research Advancement in Health Sciences Librarianship Award from the Medical Library Association.
John E. Ulmschneider, dean of VCU Libraries and university librarian, is named the 2020 Association of College & Research Libraries’ Academic/Research Librarian of the Year.

2021

Following action of the VCU Board of Visitors in September of 2020 to de-commemorate buildings, places, and monuments on campus associated with the Confederacy, the former Tompkins-McCaw Library assumes the name Health Sciences Library in January.
VCU Board of Visitors appoints Dr. Irene Herold as Dean of the VCU Libraries and the sixth university librarian.