Reflecting on his goals for building a new library, Father Hesburgh said "when I began to dream of a greater Notre Dame, it seemed to me that there was no greater step forward we could make, as a great Catholic university, than to have the best Catholic university library in the world." This dream was realized when the Memorial Library, believed to be the largest college library building in the world at that time, opened on September 18, 1963, and was dedicated on May 7, 1964.
On September 20, 2014, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Hesburgh Library, the University of Notre Dame launched a year-long celebration framed by these two significant dates. The campus-wide inaugural event was held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Hesburgh Library Concourse immediately preceding the Michigan State football game pep rally. Hundreds of Notre Dame faculty, students, alumni and friends attended the event which featured live music by Oblates of Blues, sweets courtesy of Au Bon Pain, digital and physical exhibits, commemorative keepsakes and more.
A formal ceremony featured words of reflection and renewal offered by Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president; Thomas G. Burish, University provost; and Diane Parr Walker, Edward H. Arnold University Librarian. In addition to remarks offered during the ceremony, Father Jenkins said, “The growth of the Hesburgh Library over the last half century reflects our aspiration to be the world’s preeminent Catholic research university, and on its 50th anniversary we are proud and grateful for the many ways both the library and Notre Dame have flourished.” Thomas G. Burish, University provost added, “The intellectual, academic and cultural life of Notre Dame as we know and enjoy it would not be imaginable were it not for the establishment and development of the Hesburgh Library."
This campus-wide celebration launched the first of many events that took place throughout the year. In collaboration with partners from across the University, the Hesburgh Libraries co-sponsored over 50 events and shared well over 50 stories relating the mission of “connecting people to knowledge” and the vital contributions the Libraries have made to the advancement of Notre Dame, its faculty, students and alumni.
The slate of events during the 2013-14 academic year included the release of the retrospective book Words of Life by Bill Schmitt and the debut of the Hesburgh Libraries Lecture Series. Lectures in the series included The Story Behind “Touchdown Jesus”: An Artisit’s Journey to the Word of Life presented by Janet Bake; Can These Dry Bones Live?: Old Books, Modern Libraries, and The Digital Domain presented by Michael F. Suarez, S.J.; and Father Hesburgh and Human Rights: His Legacy and Our Bridge to the Future presented by former Senator Harris Wofford.
Exhibits were enjoyed throughout the year in the Hesburgh Library Concourse and online, including “50 Milestones of the Hesburgh Library.” Rare Books and Special Collections also curated two semester-long exhibits. Tír na nÓg: Literature for Young People from the Hesburgh Libraries' Irish Collections was on display during the fall term and Robert Creeley's Library was featured during the spring. Additional anchor events included the Center for Digital Scholarship Opening Reception, TEDxUND 2014, Remix Digital Literacy Portal Launch, and Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde Children’s Opera featuring the new Notre Dame Children’s Choir.
This year-long celebration was an important milestone for the Hesburgh Library. It gave us the opportunity to reflect on our past and on the original vision that this library building and its now world famous “Word of Life” mural would stand as a symbol of academic excellence and the pursuit of knowledge. This look back during the 50th anniversary year anchored efforts to create a renewed vision — one that will inspire intellectual inquiry and academic excellence for the next 50 years and beyond.
Experience 50 Milestones through the life of the Hesburgh Library!
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