Photoessay #483 - Sac State Library

Last night, I arrived a bit early for a team meeting at Panera's at Northgate. All around me were college students (mostly Asian) with their laptops and their thick textbooks studying. Singly and in groups. Finals week.

Even though yesterday I wrote about the past with their fuzzy issues largely forgotten. However it recalled to me the wonder that was the Sac State Library. I discovered, late in high school, that I could get on my bicycle, ride along the levee on the newly opened American River Trail and get to Sacramento State College (now California State University, Sacramento). Aboout 5 miles away.

I discovered the library at Sac State. Marvelous! Multiple floors of books and periodicals. More things that you could ever read. Open to anybody. I loved to browse through there, trying a little of this and that. I could not get enough, I loved it so. Given the politics of the situation, my mother was sure that I was up to no good, she did not believe for a minute that I was getting on my bike to hang out on my own at the Sac State Library. Such a joy, I could hardly believe that all of that reading material was available to me on my own.

To me, the place met all my expectations as a major important site. I could not imagine anyplace better. On the second floor, the math and science library occupied a big room filled with study tables. Tables filled with Asian students.

In reality, it was a squat outmoded facility, in fact it was complete replaced within the next few years. I have no idea if that building still exists.

Sac State was founded in 1947. Interesting that it became CSU Sacramento in 1972 but, in 2004, decided to rebrand itself as Sacramento State.

I found this tidbit about the library

In 1953 a two-story Sacramento State Library was built near the Administration Building facing J Street and included 30,000 volumes and a staff of 15. Dr. Alan D. Covey was appointed the first College Librarian. In 1959 a third story increased the building’s capacity by 125,000 volumes. Dr. Perry D. Morrison became the second College Librarian in 1963 followed in 1966 by Gordon Martin, who oversaw the construction of a new library building.

I visited the library in 1969-1970 during the waning days of that building. I do remember it was 3 stories and a square building. But I was not looking for beauty, I loved it perfectly.

I could not find a picture, maybe it's been torn down. This is a picture of the current Library Quad from wikipedia.