Library services began in the administration office at the Fairgrounds Campus with Sylvia Fetterly Anderson. The books of this Library (less than 50) were on a shelf above her desk. After Grace Mayhew became librarian for the Provo Campus, Sylvia was the school’s treasurer.
Grace was the first librarian for the Provo Campus. The library was housed in the multi-purpose building and shared space with the bookstore. Grace was also the bookstore clerk. While Grace was librarian, the library increased from less than one hundred books to several hundred volumes.
In August 1969, George was appointed the second school librarian. He was a man of many talents and was a highly qualified librarian. He worked with instructors in each department, encouraging them to purchase books and periodicals which would enrich their programs. With his leadership, the library grew from a few hundred books to over 20,000 volumes. He was president of the Utah Librarian’s Association from 1974-75. George was also the founding chairman of the Theater and Dramatic Arts Department.
Carrol was Dean of Learning Resources and Services at UVSC which included her duties as the Library Director. It was this same year that the Library at UVSC was completed. Carrol held two master’s degrees, one in Counseling and Guidance and the other one in Library and Information Science. Carrol was killed in an automobile accident in 1992.
Following Carrol Reid’s death, the library temporarily fell under the direction of the Learning Enrichment Center (Dean Mark Spencer and Associate Dean Bonnie Henrie). In 1995, Mike was appointed as Library Director. He has an MS in history from the University of Utah and a Masters of Library Science from the University of Missouri. During Mike’s administration, Utah Valley State College became Utah Valley University, and a new 200,000 square foot library was built.
Upon Michael Freeman’s retirement, Lesli Baker was hired as the new Library Director. Lesli previously worked for the library as a Reference/Instruction Librarian and Assistant Director of Public Services. She has a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Brigham Young University and a Master of Education degree in Instructional Technology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Highlights of her administration include the arrival and subsequent oversight of the Roots of Knowledge stained glass windows in the newly established Bingham Gallery.
