Art in the Indiana State University Library: Why Have Original Artworks in an Academic Library?

Why have original artworks in an academic library? One could very well pose the question; doesn’t original art work belong in a museum rather than in a library? In answer to this question, we would respond that one of the primary goals of the Indiana State University Library is to provide a welcoming atmosphere and that “fine art” contributes to this environment. More importantly, we want to have an environment that is conducive to creativity and intellectual endeavor

Dolly B. Davis Hoover: Pioneer Black Librarian

On November 26, 2000, friends and colleagues gathered at Saint Stephens Episcopal Church to honor the memory of Dolly B. Davis Hoover, the first African American faculty member at Indiana State University. The newspaper accounts of this occasion make note of her contribution to diversification and her role as a librarian at the university. As Charles Chillington eulogized “she opened ways that were not opened to most of us here.” These accounts, however, only offer a mere palimpsest of her remarkable career, a career which should be acknowledged in annals of Black Librarianship. The accomplishments of Dolly B. Davis Hoover are remarkable given the context of the time when she embarked upon the career of professional librarian in 1945

Place: The Cunningham Memorial Library of Indiana State University

When one thinks of a library, often the first image that comes to mind is a brick or stone building. However, one should also remember that a library is a gathering place. Within its walls are carefully gathered or collected resources, whether electronic, print, or sound. Beyond such artifacts, the library is moreover a gathering place for people, be it library faculty and staff, or the patrons which they serve. It is a place for people to work, investigate, socialize, or repose. Indiana State University’s Cunningham Memorial Library (CML) embodies both these concepts. Yes, it is a physical structure, but even more so it is a gathering place. What follows is an exposition of the library’s rich history, its buildings, its collections, and the means through which it gathers people into its fold – library faculty, staff, and patron alike