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Continuity
Paul Kobulnicky
Director, University Libraries
The recent rededication of the Homer Babbidge Library was a wonderful occasion to focus on rebirth and renewal. The library's structure had been repaired and the services of the library had been dramatically redesigned to prepare for the future. The renewed building was being viewed from the broader perspective of a campus that was likewise in the process of renewal. A beautiful and exciting Babbidge Library sits at the physical and intellectual center of the Storrs campus as envisioned in the university's new master plan. In this environment, there is every reason to look forward. There are, however, compelling reasons to also look back.
Many of you may recall that the Babbidge Library was constructed as part of a previous university master planning process led by President Homer Babbidge. The siting of the library was intended to place the university's first genuine research library facility at the center of a research complex and in the center of campus. That original planning process was unfortunately short-lived, undermined by a lack of capital funding. Aside from the library, the Whetten graduate complex was the only other portion planned. However, that master plan, envisioned and initiated by Homer Babbidge, was responsible for a major library facility located in such a perfect position that it became a driving force in the university's current planning process.
Throughout the funding deliberations for the repair of the library, and even during the course of its renovation, there were cries of frustration from legislators, faculty and prominent citizens of the state to "tear it down and start over." It was wise not to heed those cries. What was missing in those cries was an understanding of the really fine job done by former director of libraries John McDonald in conceiving the Babbidge Library. In many ways, John was the father of the research library at the university, both as a collection and as a facility.
When John envisioned the new building, he insisted on one that was functionally sound, eminently flexible, elegantly simple in concept, and very modular. In short, a building that with proper maintenance and attention would function well for many decades into the future. The renovation of the Babbidge Library gave us an opportunity, not to undo what John McDonald had begun, but rather to follow his vision and renew the facility he had created with the expectation that it would one day need renewal.
Much attention this October was given to the redesign of services in the Babbidge Library, services that are customer-centered and augmented by new telecommunications systems. Today's world has embraced both customers and computers in big ways; however, the "new" services in the new Babbidge Library are best understood as a continuation of the work of my predecessor, Norman Stevens. Long before specialized services and computerization were popular and easy to accomplish, Norman led the development of now highly successful stand-alone service units such as Interlibrary Loan, the Map and Geographic Information Center, and the Art and Design Library. Norman saw the need to bring computerized services into the library when developing such services was not only difficult but truly visionary. And, if anything helped to finally sell the need to find a satisfactory solution to Babbidge's structural problems, it was the construction and huge success of the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, a project that was conceived and initiated by Norman Stevens.
My colleagues and I have every reason to be pleased. University students, faculty and staff are enthusiastic about and proud of the renovated library and think highly of our services. The citizens of Connecticut can once again feel good about their investment in us. And we no longer feel the burden of working in a facility that is visible for the wrong reasons. However, my colleagues and I recognize that we have not invented the world from scratch and we have not charted the future of the Babbidge Library ourselves. We inherited it from those who have preceded us. We are the stewards of their vision. Please join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Homer Babbidge, John McDonald, Norman Stevens and all of our colleagues who are, or were, a part of the past, present and future of the University of Connecticut Libraries.
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