UC San Diego. Office of the University Librarian Records, 1951-1999

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Summary

Title:
UC San Diego. Office of the University Librarian Records
Dates:
1951-1999
Creators:
UC San Diego Library (2013-). Office of the University Librarian
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.
Extent:
18.4 Linear feet (46 archives boxes, 2 oversize folders, and 1 map case folder) and .711 GB of digital files
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

UC San Diego. Office of the University Librarian Records, RSS 1030. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Acquired 1987-2019
Accruals:

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.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Special Collections Archives, UC San Diego
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-12-22 13:42:58 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Records containing personnel information are redacted and restricted in accordance with state and federal statutes.

Preferred citation:

UC San Diego. Office of the University Librarian Records, RSS 1030. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.

Location of this collection:
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0175
La Jolla, CA 92093-0175, US
Contact:
(858) 534-2533
spcoll@ucsd.edu
Website