Building & History

25th Anniversary

The Consortium Library celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1998.

25th Anniversary Online Exhibit: prepared by Archives and Collections

Text of the flyer developed by the UAA Chancellor's Office for the reception at the closing of the 25th Anniversary exhibit.

The Library is at the heart of higher learning. It has been a central feature in the planning, growth, and development of the University of Alaska Anchorage from its earliest days. With origins in the development of Anchorage Community College, the library shared its first collections with West High School until the construction of the ACC campus in 1969. The concept of a joint library to serve the community college and the neighboring private educational institution, Alaska Methodist University, quickly followed and produced an agreement to develop a joint library.

In 1970 the legislature passed a bill funding the construction of the library to be shared by both institutions. The Consortium Library opened in 1973.

The development of this new library in the early 1970s coincided with the changes in the institutions, which it served. When AMU ceased operations in the mid-1970s and was replaced by a new institution, Alaska Pacific University, the consortium agreements remained. The senior college eventually led to the four-year University of Alaska, Anchorage. In 1987 this unit combined with the community college to establish today's University of Alaska Anchorage.

Since first constructed, UAA has grown dramatically both in students served and academic programs offered. Today the library is half the size recommended by the Association of College Research Libraries but exciting plans are underway to expand and transform the library, both in space and concept, into the 21st Century....