From Book Space to People Space: Using Oral History to Celebrate and Reflect on a Major Milestone Anniversary in an Academic Library

Abstract

Major milestone anniversaries in libraries provide library administrators, library workers, and the wider community with rich opportunities for both celebration and reflection. In 2023, the University of Toronto Libraries celebrated the 50th anniversary of its flagship library branch, the John P. Robarts Research Library, a monumental Brutalist building that has become an iconic part of the university’s identity and the city skyline. One of the initiatives undertaken to celebrate this milestone was an oral history project to interview past and current library employees and community members about their experiences, thoughts, and reflections about the library. Interviews were conducted with 30 participants, including alumni, faculty and staff, architects, and architectural specialists. The result was a primary source collection of interviews deposited at the University of Toronto Archives for future researchers interested in topics like the history of Robarts Library and the University of Toronto, the history of academic libraries and higher education, the impact of technology on libraries and research, and the history of student life, labor relations, and work at the library. The interviews also generated material for use in 50th anniversary events and programming and proved particularly valuable for the curation of a physical and online exhibition that explored the history, the challenges, and the accomplishments of the library. The oral history project provided an opportunity for the library community to reflect on major themes and drivers of change in its history.