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UC San Diego. Office of the University Librarian records
RSS 1030
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Office of the University Librarian records
Creator:
UC San Diego Library (2013-). Office of the University Librarian
Identifier/Call Number: RSS 1030
Physical Description:
18.4 Linear feet
(46 archives boxes, 2 oversize folders, and 1 map case folder)
Physical Description:
.711 GB
of digital files
Date (inclusive): 1951-1999
Abstract: The records of the Office of the University Librarian document the administration of the UC San Diego Library. Prominent subjects
include the establishment, growth, and activities of the University Library on the UC San Diego campus.
Languages:
English
.
Records containing personnel information are redacted and restricted in accordance with state and federal statutes.
Acquired 1987-2019
UC San Diego. Office of the University Librarian records. RSS 1030. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.
The Office of the University Librarian directs the operations of the UC San Diego Library in support of the University's academic
and research mission. The University Librarian is the chief administrative officer for the Library. The UC San Diego Library
provides access to information and resources that support the University's research, teaching, patient care, and public service.
In 2011, the Library responded to several years of significant budget cuts by restructuring; evolving from a decentralized
model of several smaller branch libraries to a centralized model resulted in the permanent closing of several of its buildings
and the reduction of its physical footprint to the Geisel Library building and the Biomedical Library building. The University
Librarian reports to the Executive Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and is supported by several Associate University Librarians.
University Librarians to date have been: Melvin Voigt (1960-1976), Millicent Abell (1976-1984), Dorothy Gregor (1985-1992),
Gerald Lowell (1993-1998), Brian Schottlaender (2000-2017), and Erik Mitchell (2018-present). Additionally, Phyllis Mirsky
served as Acting University Librarian at several times in 1985 and 1992-1993, and as Interim University Librarian in 1998-1999.
Scope and Content of Collection
The records of the Office of the University Librarian document the administration of the UC San Diego Library. Prominent subjects
include the establishment, growth, and activities of the University Library on the UC San Diego campus. The records include
extensive correspondence files, committee materials, departmental reports and statistics, and organizational planning and
development files.
The collection is arranged in record groups that reflect the tenure of each University Librarian, beginning with the records
of the first University Librarian, Melvin Voigt, and continuing through the tenure of Gerald Lowell. The series are numbered
consecutively throughout the collection.
Melvin Voigt (1960-1976)
Millicent Abell (1976-1984)
Dorothy Gregor (1985-1991)
Gerald Lowell (1993-1998)
Melvin Voigt: The records of Melvin Voigt, University Librarian from November 1960 to September 1976. As the first University
Librarian at UC San Diego, Voigt was tasked with building a brand new library system for the campus. In addition, he developed
the New Campus Program, a cost-saving plan to develop basic undergraduate book collections for the three newest campuses of
the University of California (Irvine, San Diego, and Santa Cruz). He guided the design and construction of the Central University
Library, which was later expanded and renamed the Geisel Library.
Arranged in four series: 1) ADMINISTRATIVE FILES, 2) COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMS, 3) COMMITTEES, and 4) LIBRARY PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT.
Millicent Abell: The records of Millicent Abell, University Librarian from October 1976 to December 1984. Under Abell's leadership,
several library-wide studies were conducted to analyze the collections, staffing needs, and structure of the libraries. This
work is documented heavily in the Collections and Programs, Committees, and Library Planning and Development series.
Arranged in four series: 5) ADMINISTRATIVE FILES, 6) COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMS, 7) COMMITTEES, and 8) LIBRARY PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT.
Dorothy Gregor: The records of Dorothy Gregor, University Librarian from August 1985 to 1991. The records document the continued
growth of collections, including the establishment of the Melanesian Studies Resource Center and the Library of the Graduate
School of Pacific Basin International Relations. The planning, design, and construction of the 1992 Central Library Addition
is particularly well documented through project reports, schematic designs and plans, and photographic slides.
Arranged in four series: 9) ADMINISTRATIVE FILES, 10) COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMS, 11) COMMITTEES, and 12) LIBRARY PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT.
Gerald Lowell: The records of Gerald Lowell, University Librarian from April 1993 to November 1998. In addition to his duties
as University Librarian, Lowell was appointed Assistant Vice Chancellor, Academic Information Technology. Lowell furthered
the existing explorations into the automation of library functions and succeeded in establishing several new technologies
and workflows, including electronic means of accessing and delivering information. The records include documentation of increasing
budgetary issues and Lowell's responses to them: cost-saving cooperative agreements with other institutions, extensive library
usage and facilities surveys, and eventual steps to downsize.
Arranged in four series: 13) ADMINISTRATIVE FILES, 14) COLLECTIONS AND PROGRAMS, 15) COMMITTEES, and 16) LIBRARY PLANNING
AND DEVELOPMENT.
Melvin Voigt Papers. MSS 170. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library
UC San Diego. Office of the Chancellor special events. RSS 50. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library
UCSD 25th Anniversary Oral Histories. RSS 52. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Friends of the UCSD Library records. RSS 1030. Special Collections & Archives. UC San Diego Library
This collection has additional unprocessed materials not described in this finding aid. See the UC San Diego Library
catalog record to view the acquisition dates and extent of unprocessed additions.
The collection includes born-digital materials, described in the container list.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
UC San Diego Library (2013-). Office of the University Librarian -- Archives
University of California, San Diego. University Library -- Archives
Abell, Millicent D. -- Archives
Voigt, Melvin J. (Melvin John), 1911-2000 -- Archives
Gregor, Dorothy, 1939- -- Archives
Lowell, Gerald R. -- Archives
University of California, San Diego. Biomedical Library -- Archives
UCSD Library (1979-1993) -- Archives
UC San Diego Library (2013- ) -- Archives
UCSD Libraries (1993-2013) -- Archives
UCSD Libraries (1993-2013). Office of the University Librarian -- Archives
UCSD Library (1979-1993). Office of the University Librarian -- Archives
University of California, San Diego. University Library. Office of the University Librarian -- Archives