Waldorf College Library History

History of Libraries at Waldorf College

1903

In 1903 when Waldorf College opened its doors the library collection was several hundred volumes of books located in several small rooms in the northwest corner of Salveson Hall. Thorvald Thorson was the librarian and the library held weekly seminars on current affairs to stimulate and establish good reading habits.

Library at Waldorf College was orginally located in Salveson Hall just off the main lobby.

1904-1932

The library collections grew to over 3500 volumes and a part time librarian was hired. An additional room in Salveson was added as a reading room

1933-1945

By 1933 the collections had outgrown the orginal room in Salveson Hall. Many books were stored in other parts of Salveson Hall and the library had occupied most of the south end and parts of the basement in Salveson Hall. The book count in 1944 was over 10,000 volumes and in 1945 Waldorf College hired its first full time librarian with a masters in library science; Ardis (Anderson) Koto.

1946-1978

The library continued to grow and in 1958 the Rev. Osborne Bruland become the head librarian.He recataloged then entire collection into the Library of Congress Classification system. In 1958 the library had 15,000 volumes to 26,600 volumes in 1965. Major reconstruction work took place in Salveson Hall to accomidate the growing collection. The periodical room on first floor had been the former chapel. A skylight and fireplace were removed to accomidate growth. In 1967 with the campus center complete the food service moved out of the basement and the library aquired more basement space to house periodicals. Ruth Rassmusson became head librarian after the retirement of Rev. Bruland and in 1978 Mary Ballard become the head librarian.

Waldorf Lirbrary in the late 1950's after a major expansion. Chapel seating, a skylight,                                                                                       and fireplace were removed creating a larger reading room.

1979-1983

During this time the collections grew to 50,000 items and the there was no more room for expansion in Salveson Hall. A new library building committee was formed to explore plans and ideas for a new library. A gift from Luise V. Hanson and Dorothea V. Peterson was given to build a new library in the memory of their father, the Rev. C.E.G. Voss and their mother and family. Major gifts from the Kinney-Lindstrom Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Willard Latham completed the interior funishings.

1984-2003

Ground breaking for the new library was on March 1, 1984 and on the first day of fall classes the Voss Memorial Library was open to the Waldorf Community. After 81 years in Salveson Hall spread over many rooms the library was now housed in a new building. Built on the former site of the Winnebago County Jail the library was orginally connected by corridores to Thorson and Nilssen Boe Halls. Later in the 80s an atrium was build that connected all the building including Salveson Hall. The library had conference rooms, a microfilm corridor later converted into a computer alley. The open space plan allowed for growth for several years. During this time Mary Ann Bartz became the library director.

Cover of a special section from the Forest City Summit, Thursday, October 11, 1984

Front area of library showing circulation desk and study spaces

Study Area in the south end of the library

2003

In October, as Waldorf celebrated its 100th anniversary, the College recieved $4.5 million from the John K. and Luise V. Hanson Foundation to fund a new library. The announcement was made during the College's Redededication ceremont on October 11 as part of its Cenennial celebration. Planing for the new library started immediately. On October 13 a groundbreaking ceremony was held.

 
2004 - Present

Waldorf's new library honors Luise Hanson, an 18-year member of the Waldorf College Board of Regents. Luise and John K. Hanson were strong supporters of Waldorf College. MSR of Rochester, Minnesota was chosen as the architect for the building and Henkel Construction was the general contractor from Mason City, Iowa. The new library is over 28,500 square feet and will contain book stack space for at least 90,000 volumes, group study rooms, classrooms, comfortable seating and study areas, and a coffee shop. Jim Kapoun was hired in 2004 as the new library director.

Luise V. Hanson Library
Waldorf College
106 South 6th Street
Forest City, Iowa 50436
641-585-8110
August 10, 2008