Timeline of the Library at Wilmington College and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Edited by Adina Lack, UNCW Archivist
Introduction: This is an unofficial timeline, created by faculty and staff of William M. Randall Library in 1997. It was originally in the format of a banner that was displayed in the library to welcome the new University Librarian, Sherman Hayes. The text was transcribed, edited, and placed online in Spring, 2001.
Note: It is not necessarily a complete story of the library, but it does capture aspects of history as remembered and recorded by library employees at the time. Any errors made are the responsibility of the UNCW Archivist. Please contact the archivist (962-4233) if you have questions or corrections.
Highlights of Our History by Sue Ann Cody was a valuable reference for use in constructing this timeline.
1950
Circulation records kept in cardboard covered notebooks
1952
Full accreditation by Southern Association
1964
20,000 volumes in Library in October
1964-65
Wilmington College became a liberal arts college
Library had complete file of Chemical Abstracts
Library first requested status as government documents depository
44 titles borrowed through ILL
1965
Library converted from Dewey Decimal System to Library of Congress Classification in July
Library became partial depository for United States government documents.
1965-1967
Book collection doubled during this time
1969
Groundbreaking held for new library building
Library moved from the Edwin A. Alderman Administration Building to its own new building
William Madison Randall Library opened
1969-1970
40% increase in circulation
Marine Science Collection developed in anticipation of graduate program
Library was open 77 hours a week
1970-71
Collection surpassed 80,000
88 titles borrowed through ILL
April 1972
Collection = 100,000 volumes
Card catalog = 472 drawers
1972-73
Alton A. Lennon papers donated
Randall Library became Charter member of SOLINET
1973-74
Book budget = $16,000.
Subscriptions cost $17,000.
Government documents collection = 1603 linear feet
1975
Online cataloging via OCLC began in July
1976
Arlene Hanerfeld hired the first SPA employee to work the night shift in Reader Services (reference and circulation)
1977
A/V collection established
Gene Huguelet came to Randall Library
1978
Gene Huguelet began as Library Director
1983
Retrospective conversion from card catalog to online catalog began in December
1985
Retrospective conversion completed in July
Lana D. Taylor was hired as first African American librarian at UNCW
1987-88
A new integrated library automation system, LS-2000, was introduced
Collection = 300,000 bound volumes
Stopped filing cards in card catalog in fall 1987.
1988
Began using LS-2000 for circulation in January
Became full depository for North Carolina documents
1990
GOVDOCS subscription begin
US document records added to catalog
Louise Jackson, Head of Reference, won Governor's Award for Excellence, in recognition of performance of exceptional merit to the state of North Carolina.
1991-92
ILL borrowed 7,308
ILL loaned 3,774
11,082 items
1992-93
Stopped using LS-2000
1993
Acquisitions and Cataloging merged to form Technical Services
1993-94
Open 343 days ... 98.5 hrs./wk.
1994
Acquisitions was last module to migrate to INNOPAC, the new library automation system
Beginning in December, staff no longer had to type purchase orders
1995
Serials moved to Technical Services
1996
Lana D. Taylor retired in July.
In October, Technical Services started using newly purchased work station with Windows 95.
Randall Library entered the 70 millionth ILL request in the OCLC database in October.
1997
Sherman Hayes began as University Librarian on July 31, 1997.
