Guide to the Westminster College Giovale Library building records

Westminster College libraries through the years:

Converse Hall, completed in 1907 housed the college library from 1911 until the March 12, 1926 fire, which destroyed much of the college's classroom and office space as well as its 14,000-volume library, regarded at the time as one of the finest private collections in the American West.

F. R. Payne, then president of the Board of Trustees, raised $50,000 for the rebuilding of Converse Hall in just one week. Ultimately, $300,000 (over 2 million in 2006 dollars) was raised, allowing for the complete rebuilding of Converse Hall within its original walls. The newly reconstructed Converse Hall was open for classes by September 1926. Converse Hall stood relatively unscathed until the mid-sixties when the ivy covering its facade started pulling out bricks and causing extreme damage. While temporary measures were taken to maintain the building, the library moved to a new location. Eventually in 1988 extensive restoration of Converse Hall began.

The Nightingale Building, or just "Night" as it's more popularly known, housed the campus library from 1964-1997. Dedicated as Nightingale Memorial Library on December 7, 1964, during President W. Fred Arbogast's term (1963 to 1968), it was named to honor William T. Nightingale, late trustee, for his service to Westminster College and its community. Since the construction of the Giovale Library, Nightingale has been renovated twice. The building was rededicated for the 2012/2013 school year as "The Bassis Center for Student Learning", named after Dr. Michael Bassis, the college's 16th president, in honor of his intense focus on student learning. The new facility includes the college's first-ever indoor student commons, a full-service coffee shop, an architectural skylight, fireplace and solar light gathering tubes that bring in natural light. The center is also home to the Center for Civic Engagement, Environmental Center, Westminster Scholars Program, photography labs and a new state-of-the-art eportfolio lab.

Giovale Library building was completed in 1997. Funded primarily by John and Ginger Giovale (former Chair of the Board of Trustees), it was dedicated September 12, 1997, and provides 47,000 square feet on 3 levels to house computer labs, a writing center, information commons and a small coffee area, in addition to the Watson Board Room, conference rooms, and reception and exhibit space in the Tower Reading Room as well as the Information Technology and Faculty Technology Center offices. As part of the opening ceremonies, books were handed down a line of students, staff and faculty from the old Nightingale Library to Giovale.

This collection consists of the Giovale Library building records dating 1993-2000. Since 1997, the Giovale Library building has housed the college library of Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah. Materials include brochures, building plans, flyers, handbooks, information sheets, manuals, newspaper clippings, photographs, and presentations related to the planning, construction, dedication, and operations of the Giovale Library. Planning for the Giovale Library started in 1993, and construction began in 1996. The structure was completed in 1997 and dedicated in September of that year.

Restrictions on Access:

Open to public research.

Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Twenty-four hours advance notice is encouraged.

Restrictions on Use:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material must be obtained from the director of the Giovale Library.

Preferred Citation:

Westminster College Library building records, 1993-2000, ACC-105, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Processing Note:

Processed March 2009 by Rebekah Sappington.

Creator:

Westminster College of Salt Lake City. Library

Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- ). Library

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

0.5 linear feet

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written March 2009 by Rebekah Sappington.

EAD Creation Date:

2013 November 26 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Related Material:

Related collections and photographs in Giovale Library Archives:

• Westminster College building dedication records, 1905-2002 (ACC-101)
• Westminster College Nightingale Library records, 1964-1990 (ACC-103)

The College of Architecture and Planning, University of Utah holds several photographs of the Giovale Library building at Westminster College:

• Photograph of the Giovale Library, Westminster College
• Photograph of the Giovale Library, Westminster College

Corporate Names:

Westminster College of Salt Lake City--Libraries
Westminster College of Salt Lake City. Library--Archives
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998-)--Libraries
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998-). Library--Archives

Subject Terms:

Academic libraries--Utah--Salt Lake City
Library buildings--Utah--Salt Lake City--Design and construction

Form or Genre Terms:

Brochures
Building plans
Clippings (information artifacts)
Fliers (printed matter)
Handbooks
Information artifacts
Manuals (instructional materials)
Photographs
Presentations (communicative events)

Geographical Names:

Salt Lake City (Utah)--History--Sources