UNCG University Libraries - History

History

Starting in 1895, the library began as a small collection in one main room. It consisted of several hundred books donated or paid for by the Charles Duncan McIver and his family, the faculty, and the students. By 1900, library had moved to the former gymnasium and had grown to over three thousand volumes. Later known as the Carnegie Library, the major expansion of 1923 tripled the building's capacity to over 20,000 volumes; the growing library collection reached 60,000 by 1930. In 1934 a fire destroyed the Carnegie Library building, although much of the stacks collection survived with only water damage. After years of planning and interruptions from WWII, the Walter Clinton Jackson Library was built in 1950. This older portion of the library still stands and houses much of the library administration and special collections. In 1964 the library became a federal document depository; it still retains the status as a selective depository for U.S. government documents, as well as a full depository for State documents. A nine-story tower addition was built to the main building in the 1970s, making it a landmark on campus.

The University Libraries grew out of Jackson Library. As faculty and students came increasingly to rely on technology, a Learning Resources Center was created in 1982. Under Chancellor Sullivan, a new School of Music Building was opened in 1999 housing a separate Music Library.