Albert S. Cook Library celebrates 50 years
Here’s a look back in time at how the library has changed over the years.
By Briana Richert '20 on September 15, 2019
The Albert S. Cook Library celebrated its 50th birthday with a 1960s-themed party, commemorating its history and contributions to the Towson University campus.
Now that Cook Library is over-the-hill, the campus collective celebrated the 50 years of comfort and academic assistance it has provided with cake, candy and Cook Library history. Here’s a look back in time at all of the library’s changes over the years and a recap of the party.
Developed by the Albert S. Cook Library Leadership Institute’s A-list students, the 1960s-themed celebration reflects what the library was like after its relocation from the president’s office in 1969. Library staff, including Joyce Garczynski, assistant university librarian for development and communication, guided the students in putting together the event.
“It’s really been a collaborative effort, and our staff are going to be the ones staffing this event, so it’s really a library-wide celebration we’re really excited about,” says Garczynski.
The party was held Sept. 18 on the Cook Library patio. It featured 1960s-themed games and activities—like tote bag tie-dying—and had a cake and types of candy created in the 1960s. There was also a 1960s-themed photo booth and many great opportunities to learn about what campus was like during that time.
Although Cook Library has been at TU for 50 years, TU’s library services date back to the 1800s and the university’s origins as a teacher’s training school. Back then, access to the library was extremely limited, being located in the principal’s (now known as president) office and allocated to faculty and staff. Students traveled to the George Peabody Library, which was a part of the Johns Hopkins University campus.
After assessing student growth and attendant needs, the library moved in 1969 to what we now know to be the Media Center and later added the much larger “expansion” that we now know as Albert S. Cook Library.
Through the years, the library has adapted to student needs: A leaking fountain transformed into a roaring tiger, a single vending machine evolved to our prized Starbucks, a 24/7 space has sprung up in place of 10 p.m. closing and paper cataloging switched to ‘text a librarian.’
Walking down Memory Lane is nice, but the future looks bright for Cook Library. A history of becoming exactly what’s needed, the library is sure to continue in its progress. Felicity Knox, library associate for the University Archives and 20-year TU staff member, remarked on the library’s skills in adapting through collaboration with students.
“Librarians do spend a lot of time trying to forecast the future. It’s hard to know, because 20 years ago I would not have even thought that the physical changes we’ve seen were possible. As libraries continue to grow and understand the needs that students have, I think that ability to adapt to student desires for different spaces for different ways of taking information pushes us to continue to evolve.”