UMHB Townsend Memorial Library

An article in the Mary Hardin-Baylor News of February, 1960, stated that a long overdue goal for that year was to build a library as a memorial to Dean and Mrs. Townsend, whose combined services to Mary Hardin Baylor College totaled nearly eighty years. An open letter from President Tyson appealed to graduates and former students for gifts to make the dream of a new library possible. The library, dedicated on September 24, 1961, cost $327,000 and was designed for 75,000 volumes.

In 1920, the year of the Diamond Jubilee, several buildings were added to the campus of Baylor College for Women. Among them were Wells Science Hall, Burt Hall, and Ruth Stribling Hall. There were plans to add a library and a fine arts building with funds from the Seventy-five Million Dollar Campaign of Texas Baptists. Unfortunately, the receipts were disappointing so in 1923, the college built a “temporary” library.

The temporary building was a $10,000 frame structure with a reading room and stacks area. A letter written by the librarian in 1935 to the college business manager noted that rats in the library were destroying the magazines. In 1938, a similar letter complained of mosquitoes which were “causing great annoyance to all patrons of the library” because the windows were unscreened. In 1956, the accrediting committee of the Association of American Colleges issued an ultimatum for a more adequate building.

An article in the Mary Hardin-Baylor News of February, 1960, stated that a long overdue goal for that year was to build the proposed library as a memorial to Dean and Mrs. Townsend, whose combined services to MH-B totaled nearly eighty years.  An open letter from President Tyson appealed to graduates and former students for gifts to make the dream of a new library possible:

 “It is absolutely imperative that Mary Hardin-Baylor have a new library building in 1960. As most of you know our present library is a frame structure erected as a temporary building more than thirty-five years ago. It was designed to last no more than five years. It is now unsafe, unsightly, and inadequate in every respect. It could be destroyed by fire or storm in a matter of minutes. Should this happen, and it is an ever-present threat, we would be out of business and one of the largest and most valuable collections of books, pamphlets, and public documents in the Southwest would be forever lost.”

The library, dedicated in September, 1961, cost $327,000 and was designed for 75,000 volumes.  The college used available funds and also contracted a debt. According to the head librarian, Dr. Madge Lewis, students and faculty members, working under the direction of a moving committee appointed by the college administration, moved the books, periodicals, and furnishings from the old building. Portraits of Ernest Gale Townsend and Elli Moore Townsend were added to the library foyer. A fountain of modern design was constructed in the atrium in honor of Miss Lucile Capt and Miss Elizabeth Q. Alexander. The colonnade, offering welcome shade around the atrium, honored Arla Ray Tyson, the gift of her husband and son. By November, students were enjoying the use of the new building that had open stacks and air conditioning! During Dr. Tyson’s tenure, the library’s holdings increased by twenty-five percent.

 The 1970s were lean years for the library, and during some years, not a single book was ordered for the collection. Gift books were accepted in order to increase the numbers and fill the shelves. The Library of American Civilization collection was purchased which added about 9,000 volumes in microfiche.  In 1976, the administration accepted a grant from Amigos Bibliographic Council for the implementation of online cataloging and interlibrary loan. A retro-conversion project designed to enter the library’s holdings into a national database, OCLC, was begun. Re-filing of the card catalog according to ALA Filing Rules was completed. Juanita Jones was the library director from 1975-1983.  During her tenure, there were three professional librarians on staff.

 From 1983-1984, Daphane Kerley served as interim library director. Robert Strong was hired in 1984. By 1987, the library’s collection exceeded 110,000 volumes and the building was in urgent need of expansion. With an estimated growth rate of 5% per year, the collection was projected to total 275,000 volumes by 2007.   In 1993 negotiations began for conversion of the card catalog to a fully-integrated online system provided by Innovative  Interfaces, Inc. All library processes including cataloging, circulation, acquisitions, and serials were automated. The test phase began in October 1993, and the library was online by January 1994.  By fall 1994, a 12,000-foot addition to the library was completed, providing much-needed shelving and seating space.

 In the mid-1990s, with the advent of the World Wide Web, the library experienced rapid change. As the student body increased, more computer workstations were purchased. The book budget increased significantly and databases became more readily available.  The library staff worked diligently to keep pace with technological changes in the field as library materials appeared in formats never envisioned. The library began development of its website in October, 1998. Townsend Memorial Library finally made it to the World Wide Web.

 In December 2003, a renovation to the library’s first floor took place. The reference collection was moved and a new computer/lounge area was created in the space. A ceiling with recessed lighting and new carpeting enhanced the first floor.  Librarians conducted library orientation classes in the computer areas on both floors. As time went on, the demand for classes increased and using the public areas proved difficult. In 2007, a library classroom was completed along with a Center for Effectiveness in Learning and Teaching. These areas occupy the old AV Center.  The library classroom houses thirty-six computers and may be divided into two classrooms for simultaneous use. In December 2009, new carpeting was installed on the second floor of the library. On the first floor, the library study tables and chairs that were original to the building were replaced with new study tables and chairs as well as lounge furniture in the summer of 2010.

For more than thirty years, Townsend Memorial Library operated with three professional librarians and two clerical staff. Today the library staff is composed of six professional librarians and five paraprofessional staff. Its mission of providing excellent service to patrons is evident in all areas of library operations. Annual statistics reflect significant use of library resources as well as the physical facility.

Karimkhani, Denise. Townsend Memorial Library: 50 Years. Unpublished document, 2011..