J. Willard Marriott Library
Encyclopedia
J. Willard Marriott Library is the library
of the University of Utah
in Salt Lake City, Utah
. It was named for J. Willard Marriott
, the founder of Marriott International
. The library building is over 516000 square feet (47,938 m²) and houses over 3 million volumes. The University of Utah Press
is a division of the Marriott Library.
. In 1935 the library moved to the George Thomas Library Building on Presidents Circle, which now serves as the Utah Museum of Natural History
.
In 1968 the library moved to its current location and was named for J. Willard Marriott in 1969 when Mr. Marriott contributed $1 million to the University of Utah for library collections. At the time, this was the largest single contribution ever received by the university.
In 1996 the library was rededicated after a 210000 square feet (19,509.6 m²) expansion, which almost doubled the library's size.
A major renovation project began in June 2005 and concluded in June 2009. The purpose of the renovation was to improve the seismic stability of the building, provide clearer pathways through the building, improve environmental controls, and allow for more natural light. Several additions were also made to the building including an automated storage and retrieval system
that can store up to 2 million items, additional classrooms and teaching labs, additional study areas, a rooftop garden, an advanced technology studio, and a new indoor café.
from 1934 to 1938; David O. McKay
, ninth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Leonidas Ralph Mecham
, Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts
from 1985 to 2006; and Wallace Stegner
, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
in 1972.
The library hosts over 100 unique digital collections, many of which include items from Special Collections. Digital collections include the Mountain West Digital Library, USpace, Utah Digital Newspapers, the Western Soundscape Archive, and Western Waters Digital Library.
The Aziz S. Atiya Library, which is located in the Marriott Library, is named after the founder of the Middle East Center
, Aziz Suryal Atiya
, and is the fifth largest library for Middle East
studies in North America
.
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. It was named for J. Willard Marriott
J. Willard Marriott
John Willard Marriott was an American entrepreneur and businessman. He was the founder of the Marriott Corporation , the parent company of one of the world's largest hospitality, hotel chains, and food services companies. The Marriott company rose from a small root beer stand in Washington D.C...
, the founder of Marriott International
Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
. The library building is over 516000 square feet (47,938 m²) and houses over 3 million volumes. The University of Utah Press
University of Utah Press
The University of Utah Press is the independent publishing branch of the University of Utah and is a division of the J. Willard Marriott Library. Founded in 1949 by A. Ray Olpin, it is also the oldest university press in Utah...
is a division of the Marriott Library.
History
The first library was established in 1850 when the school was founded. In 1900 the library was located in the LeRoy Cowles Building on Presidents CircleUniversity of Utah Circle
The University of Utah Circle, also known as Presidents Circle, is located on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as a historic district.-History:...
. In 1935 the library moved to the George Thomas Library Building on Presidents Circle, which now serves as the Utah Museum of Natural History
Utah Museum of Natural History
The Natural History Museum of Utah is a museum located at the Rio Tinto Center on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The museum shows exhibits of natural history subjects, specifically about Utah's natural history...
.
In 1968 the library moved to its current location and was named for J. Willard Marriott in 1969 when Mr. Marriott contributed $1 million to the University of Utah for library collections. At the time, this was the largest single contribution ever received by the university.
In 1996 the library was rededicated after a 210000 square feet (19,509.6 m²) expansion, which almost doubled the library's size.
A major renovation project began in June 2005 and concluded in June 2009. The purpose of the renovation was to improve the seismic stability of the building, provide clearer pathways through the building, improve environmental controls, and allow for more natural light. Several additions were also made to the building including an automated storage and retrieval system
Automated Storage and Retrieval System
An automated storage and retrieval system consists of a variety of computer-controlled methods for automatically placing and retrieving loads from specific storage locations...
that can store up to 2 million items, additional classrooms and teaching labs, additional study areas, a rooftop garden, an advanced technology studio, and a new indoor café.
Collections
The library's Special Collections include the papers of Marriner Stoddard Eccles, Chairman of the Federal ReserveChairman of the Federal Reserve
The Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is the head of the central banking system of the United States. Known colloquially as "Chairman of the Fed," or in market circles "Fed Chairman" or "Fed Chief"...
from 1934 to 1938; David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
, ninth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Leonidas Ralph Mecham
Leonidas Ralph Mecham
Leonidas Ralph Mecham is the former Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, having served in that position from 1985 to 2006. He was appointed to the position by United States Chief Justice Warren Burger in July 1985.-Biography:Ralph Mecham was born April 23, 1928, in...
, Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts
Administrative Office of the United States Courts
The Administrative Office of the United States Courts is the administrative agency of the United States federal court system. It was established in 1939.The AO is the central support entity for the federal judicial branch...
from 1985 to 2006; and Wallace Stegner
Wallace Stegner
Wallace Earle Stegner was an American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist, often called "The Dean of Western Writers"...
, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction has been awarded for distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life. It originated as the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel, which was awarded between 1918 and 1947.-1910s:...
in 1972.
The library hosts over 100 unique digital collections, many of which include items from Special Collections. Digital collections include the Mountain West Digital Library, USpace, Utah Digital Newspapers, the Western Soundscape Archive, and Western Waters Digital Library.
The Aziz S. Atiya Library, which is located in the Marriott Library, is named after the founder of the Middle East Center
University of Utah Middle East Center
The University of Utah Middle East Center is located on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. The center was officially established in 1960 and offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Center was established under the influence of scholar Dr. Aziz Atiya...
, Aziz Suryal Atiya
Aziz Suryal Atiya
Professor Aziz Suryal Atiya was a prominent Coptologist who was a Coptic historian and scholar and an expert in Islamic and Crusades studies.Professor Atiya was the founder of the Institute of Coptic Studies in Cairo in 1950s, and was also the founder of the Middle East Center, University of...
, and is the fifth largest library for Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
studies in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.