Hours

Staff

Head librarian: Carolyn Zeiger
Assistant librarian: Mary Jo Westphal
Library aides: Karen Peterson and Barbara Otto
Faculty liaison: Prof. William Zeiger

• Archives
• Current Projects
• Donations

The MLS archives have very little material for the years of the original Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 1885-1907. It is not known what kinds of resources were available to the seminarians or if there was an actual library.

The first printed reference, in English, to the beginnings of a library is in the MLS catalog of 1917-1918. It states,

The nucleus of the library was the private library of the Rev. Christian Eberhardt, who bequeathed it to the former theological seminary of the Michigan Synod, which in turn donated it to the Seminary. The library is and has constantly been increased by donations from friends of the Seminary and regular appropriations of the Joint Synod for that purpose. The library at present comprises of 945 volumes.

 

A small monthly fee is paid by the students for the maintenance of a reading room, where they have an opportunity of reading the daily newspapers and a number of the better magazines, In the reading room the more important works of reference may be found.

In the summer of 1949, a small room in the basement of Old Main was remodeled for the new MLS library. It was staffed by Prof. Luther Spaude and six students who worked during their free hours to provide assistance during the school day. At first, all the books were arranged in alphabetical order. During the second semester, the books were properly cataloged according to the Dewey Decimal System.

With the 1950 addition, the library was moved to the rooms that are now Rooms 10 and 12. In 1952, when it became difficult for Prof. Spaude to teach and to continue working in the library, Mrs. Ethel Backer agreed to be the day librarian. Prof. Spaude and several students worked during the summer months to repair books and catalog new books.
The library continued in that location until 1963, when it was moved into a larger area in the new addition. During this time, the library was only available during the class day, with some evening hours added in the 1960s.

In 1985, when construction connected the dormitory to the academic building, the student commons was moved to its central location by the new gymnasium, and the library was moved to the downstairs area that was once the MLS student union. With the extra room, a large librarian’s desk and workroom, more shelving, and study tables were added, along with a reading area.

The library collection now includes approximately ten thousand volumes; four hundred videos, CDs, and DVDs; two daily newspapers; twenty-five periodicals and other publications, and a vertical file collection. There are four computer stations that provide student access to word processing, e-mail, and the Internet. There are two study rooms for group projects and for viewing videos and DVDs in the library’s collection.

In 2002, the electronic conversion of the card catalog was finished. This made it possible for any students and faculty to search for materials at any time without actually being in the library.
Besides having daytime hours for general student use, the library is a study hall location where students may fulfill their dormitory study hall requirements. Two study halls are held after school and two are held in the evening, Monday through Thursday each week.

Archives

The librarian is the school’s historian and the keeper of the school’s archives, dating back to the beginning of Michigan Lutheran Seminary in 1885. The archives include photos, videos, 16mm films, slides, memorabilia of any kind, and the yearly publications of MLS. Items such as class rings, diplomas, memory books, school letters, and pins have also been given back to MLS.

Donations of any items are welcomed. The archives are in particular need of graduation service folders of any year and graduation announcements/invitations ordered through MLS of any year.

Current Projects

1. The reorganization of the MLS archives: In recent years a grant was given to purchase acid-free file boxes for the individual years and photo albums for the many pictures that have been collected thus far. This will be an ongoing effort as each year produces many items. There will be a need for more albums, album dust covers, and storage boxes for CDs and DVDs that span the history of MLS.

2. Extra shelving is needed to double-stack the items that do not fit on the current shelves. Since the archives room was originally built for another purpose, much of what is now being stored there does not fit in the current space. With double-stacked shelves on the counter tops, better use of this available space will be possible.

Donations

Donations of any kind for the MLS library will be greatly appreciated. With the recent budget cutbacks, the library budget has also been sharply reduced.

1. Monetary donations may given, either for use at the discretion of the librarian or for items specified by the donor.

2. Donations may be memorabilia of any kind. Please include as much information with the items, as possible, for example; include dates, places, and names that are known.

3. Donations of books for the library may be made with the condition that an item that cannot be used by the library either be returned or donated to the local Friends of Butman-Fish Library yearly sale. Books and other items should be in good condition and not have a musty odor.