Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Milner Library Technical Services Department 2023 Annual Report, Milner Library

Milner Library Publications

Annual Report for the Technical Services Department of Milner Library, Illinois State University, for calendar year 2023.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, And Access Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2023, April K. Anderson-Zorn, Elizabeth Babin, Karmine Beecroft, Rebecca Fitzsimmons, Mallory Jallas, Laura Killingsworth, Heather Koopmans, Maddi Loiselle, Jean Macdonald, Joshua Newport, Vanette Schwartz, Lindsey Skaggs, Caitlin Stewart, Cassie Thayer-Styes, Angela Yon, Eric Willey

Milner Library Publications

Report of Milner Library's activities and initiatives related to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in Fiscal Year 2023.

Milner Library Annual Report, 2023, Milner Library

Milner Library Publications

Annual Report for Milner Library, Illinois State University.

Milner Library Annual Report, 2021, Milner Library

Milner Library Publications

Annual Report for Milner Library, Illinois State University.

Milner Library Annual Report, 2019, Milner Library

Milner Library Publications

Annual Report for Milner Library, Illinois State University.

Milner Library Master Plan, Milner Library

Milner Library Publications

A compilation of all research and design efforts of the Planning Team: Bailey Edward and consultants Pfeiffer Partners, The Sextant Group, IMEG Corp., and Hitchcock Design Group, the Illinois State University Milner Library Master Plan aligns Milner Library to Illinois State University’s vision to Educate, Connect, and Elevate. To achieve this goal, it was essential to establish a Milner Library Master Plan vision which would drive the design concept development and prioritize all strategic planning for execution.

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 08: What’S In A Chair (1 Panel), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

In 1890, students were thrilled to discover their new library with “tables and chairs conveniently placed, and in every way possible the wants of the students anticipated.” Since 1892 each library space has included rooms devoted to reading, and as a result, the functionality and number of chairs have remained an important consideration in library designs. North Hall’s popularity as a student study space pointed to its severe deficiencies with “students sitting on the window sills….”

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 03: Follow The Rules (1 Panel), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

Though beloved by students, Ange. V. Milner was known for her strict attention to regulations, typical for the era, but restrictive by today’s standards.

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 13: Acknowledgments (1 Panel), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

Recognition of colleagues who contributed to this exhibit.

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 06: Building A Collection (2 Panels), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

After Ange. V. Milner physically consolidated all the separate book collections into the reception room in Old Main, she began creating an inventory of the collection using this accession book purchased through Melvil Dewey’s company, the Library Bureau. Her first entries appear on Thursday, October 16, 1890.

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 11: Opening Up (1 Panel), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

Since its unassuming beginnings, the library has grown to meet the changing needs of the University. The physical building has gradually expanded from its 160 square foot entryway to our current 224,000 square foot building. Over the years, the collection has grown in size and breadth to accommodate the transition from a teacher education institution into a multipurpose university with degree programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. To adjust to student demands, the Library’s hours of service have extended to include weekends and evenings.

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 01: Old Main (3 Panels), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

As the first fulltime librarian, Ange. V. Milner had gone above and beyond her charged duties to “rearrange, classify, and catalogue” the collections. She created a library space conducive to study and expanded library hours from one day a week to Monday through Friday, eight hours a day. The course catalog indicated that a “librarian is always in attendance” in a “well-chosen library, carefully adapted to the needs of the school.” To better help students in their coursework she created 400 individual “reference sheets,” now better known as annotated bibliographies, to guide students in the use of the collection. The …

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 09: Williams Hall (4 Panels), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

Following Ange. V. Milner’s view of the library as a “social center,” the new building included a museum with four exhibit rooms and an art gallery in the basement. On the second floor students enjoyed an informal, relaxing atmosphere in both the Browsing Room with recreational reading and the sound-proof Carnegie Room with an electric Victrola (record player) and 1000 albums.

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 07: North Hall, Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

Ange. V. Milner was typically described as frail and by 1917 her poor health had impeded her ability to work. Her active work in the library officially ended on October 15, 1927. She died January 13, 1928. The University closed for her funeral held in the University (now Capen) Auditorium. Newspaper accounts report the auditorium was overflowing. The University was aware of its loss and the importance of her life on the campus, “Her record will long remain as one of the potent influences in the making of a great institution.”

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 10: Milner Library (3 Panels), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

Many student-centered services valuable in previous libraries are no longer necessary. The “microcomputer lab” appeared in 1989 replacing the need for typewriters in the three typing rooms. The 58-cabinet card catalog was dismantled in 2002 when it became superfluous following the advent of the online catalog. Access to sources and assistance expanded dramatically in 1996 when the Library developed its first webpage. Milner Library was the first campus building to offer wireless access in 2004, allowing students to use or borrow laptops, tablets and other devices anywhere in the library.

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 05: Helping Hand (3 Panels), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

Milner developed a library collection of varied formats to meet a variety of needs. She provided classroom instruction and reference assistance to help students make use of the collections but felt “…the pupils are best off when they learn how to help themselves." Under Milner’s helpful direction students used the collections and her services hand in hand to conduct their research.

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 12: Milner Library’S Future (1 Panel), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

At a Founder’s Day banquet held in February 1924, Ange. V. Milner gave an address on the topic, "Normal Students of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” According to the news account, the 185 in attendance learned of Milner’s appreciation for past Illinois State students who achieved progress despite the struggles they faced. The account doesn’t reveal what she thought about current students, but indicated she felt students of the future would "probably follow in the footsteps of the students of 'Yesterday' and 'Today.' " In her almost 40-year career, Milner worked with many generations of students during a period of rapid …

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 02: Larger Than Life 10 (3 Panels), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

Ange. V. Milner, the University’s first full time librarian, was small in stature, but had a commanding presence. Known for kindness, as well as her tactless directness, students knew where to turn for help and that a price would be paid if her rules weren’t followed. Affectionately known as “Aunt Ange,” she was a legend in her own time.

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 00: Introduction (1 Panel), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

Illinois State University has known five libraries in its 160-year history. From its humble origins in a 160-square foot space carved out from an entryway, to its current six-floor site, each library has offered improvements over its predecessor. Each location seeking to anticipate and accommodate the changing needs of its students through improved services, collections, facilities and technology. We owe our student-centered philosophy to the University’s first fulltime librarian, Ange. V. Milner. Over the course of Milner’s nearly 40-year career, she created a library integrated into the curriculum and research needs of the University. The ideals she held and practices …

Serving Students: The Legacy Of Milner’S Library 04: Cook Hall (4 Panels), Angela L. Bonnell

Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner’s Library

Cook Hall was built in 1898 to serve the dual purposes of the gymnasium (as the building was referred to at the time) and the library. The library was a single room (49′×90′) located on the second floor above the gym.

Milner Library Makerspace Working Group Final Report, Chad Kahl

Milner Library Publications

The Makerspace Working Group was created in 2016 with the following charge:

To investigate the development of a makerspace in Milner Library’s uLab space. Specifically, the project team will explore the professional literature, perform a needs assessment, gather feedback from campus and external users and identify potential campus and off-campus partners to define what should be included in the makerspace. The team will produce a schedule for development of the makerspace, ascertain short- and long-term expenses, identify potential staffing and corresponding professional development and training needs, and develop an assessment plan for makerspace usage.

Interest in a potential makerspace grew …

Milner Library Annual Report, 2017, Milner Library

Milner Library Publications

Annual Report for Milner Library, Illinois State University.

Milner Matters Fall 2012, Milner Library

Milner Matters

Newsletter for library science alums, librarians who are Illinois State graduates, retirees, and friends of Milner Library

Milner Matters Spring 2012, Milner Library

Milner Matters

Newsletter for library science alums, librarians who are Illinois State graduates, retirees, and friends of Milner Library

Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women, Julie Derden

Milner Library Programs

This project was a series of humanities programs that explored Louisa May Alcott's untraditional life, her varied body of work, and her place in the American culture. Milner Library and partners presented five programs that represented the broad scope of Louisa May Alcott's writing, held a scholar-led discussion about the project's major humanities themes, and promoted in-depth discussion of the documentary and biography, Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women. This project was funded by a grant from National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

Milner Matters Fall 2011, Milner Library

Milner Matters

Newsletter for library science alums, librarians who are Illinois State graduates, retirees, and friends of Milner Library

Milner Matters Spring 2011, Milner Library

Milner Matters

Newsletter for library science alums, librarians who are Illinois State graduates, retirees, and friends of Milner Library

Milner Matters Spring 2010, Milner Library

Milner Matters

Newsletter for library science alums, librarians who are Illinois State graduates, retirees, and friends of Milner Library

Milner Matters Fall 2009, Milner Library

Milner Matters

Newsletter for library science alums, librarians who are Illinois State graduates, retirees, and friends of Milner Library

Milner Matters Fall 2008, Milner Library

Milner Matters

Newsletter for library science alums, librarians who are Illinois State graduates, retirees, and friends of Milner Library