1897- Picket lists several authors held in the library at McMurran Hall, including Emerson, Lowell, Hawthorne, and Sidney Lanier (May 27, 1897)
1899-Card catalog system being considered for the library; books classified in Dewey Decimal classification (PICKET)
1904-Library moved from McMurran to Knutti Hall by 100 people(May 1904 Picket)
1964-New library building (Scarborough) constructed
1965-Book walk! Books moved from Knutti to new building
1967- Classification system switched from Dewey to Library of Congress begun; changeover took several years
1977- Library named in honor of Dr. Ruth Scarborough
1980's-Personal computers appear in labs and other spaces on campus
1990's-Online library catalog (MAX) in operation; card catalog phased out
2002-New addition constructed, includes SU Archive space
2002-Scarborough Society (Friends of Library) group organized
2009-2014 Primary access to academic journal articles switch from print issues to electronic databases
2020-COVID-19 pandemic alters library (and campus) practice
2025-New flooring on "public services" side of library
All contents are listed from the back of the case to the front
1897- James Russell Lowell's complete poems (representing library volumes held at McMurran Hall, first building of Shepherd College)
1899- Dewey Classification System paper- SC library's first classification system; also card catalog considered (see box of subject cards describing SU Archive holdings)
1904-Photo of library in Knutti Hall (library moved from McMurran to Knutti in 1905)
Dr. Ruth Scarborough, for whom the library is named, was a history professor at Shepherd College (1936-1966) and eventual Chair of the Social Sciences Division.
She was instrumental in starting the International Relations Club on campus, a club focused on global affairs; she orchestrated and guided overseas trips for classes. She helped bring the world to Shepherd and Shepherd to the world just like the library strives to bring information on all human endeavors and expressions of human intellect and creativity into one space for study and enjoyment.
Fall 2025's display is a condensed history of the Shepherd campus Library from its beginnings McMurran Hall to the current Scarborough Library building and its expansion, including new changes. Since the library's job is to keep, organize and share information in as many forms as feasible, the display will also share important milestones in how the library operates and technologies that have helped the library expand and provide access to resources.
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All contents are listed from the back of the case to the front
1967-Library of Congress classification sheet and card catalog cards- Library changed classification systems from Dewey Decimal to Library of Congress (current classification system for many academic libraries in US)
1965-"Book Walk"-moving books from Knutti Hall to library building (1964 construction); library building was ONLY the "public services" side of the building (excludes 24 hour room).
1977-Picket article on the naming of the library building after Dr. Ruth Scarborough, retired history professor
(the list is not complete; there are several head librarians, associate librarians, and staff who are not listed--but still remembered)
Head of Library (Deans, Directors, and Head Librarians)
Ms. Mabel Henshaw-Gardiner-Librarian-1905-1907 (History professor 1903-1941)
Ms. Stewart Arnold-Librarian from 1924-1952 Created WWII Scrapbook in 1946
Mr. Floyd Miller-1962-1981 Librarian Helped erect and run the "new" library building
Dr. Joe Barnes-1989-2000- Helped usher in the computer age in the library
Dr. Rachel Schipper-2001-2003 Oversaw the 2002 renovation/addition to library
Librarians of Note
Ms. Jean Elliott-1962-1996 "Historian" of the library; founding member of Scarborough Society
Ms. Barbara Maxwell-1963-1967, 1967-2014: Served as student assistant, returned to Shepherd Library, worked for over four decades, attaining rank of Assistant Director. Served as Interim Dean in 2005. Library online catalog from 1990s-2017? was named MAX in her honor
Current library staff directory--Come meet us
All contents are listed from the back of the case to the front
2025-Photo of new flooring on "public services" side of building
2020-Face mask (folded)- COVID-19 changes library procedures
2014- (computer mouse pad) Electronic databases replace most print academic journal subscriptions in library
2002- newsletter-Library expansion completed; founding of Scarborough Society (friends of SU Library)
1990's- (computer mouse pad) Physical card catalog replaced with online one
1980's- (computer mouse pad) Personal computers become widespread on campus
All photographs in this display were taken by Ms. Tara Carlisle.