Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

Providing 125 Years of Answers

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1877 - Case School Of Applied Science

Leonard Case, Jr., made possible the

founding of theCase School of

Applied Science by contributing real

estate.Modified Copy of Image Property of Case Western Reserve University Archives

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1880 – Case School of Applied Science

Case School

Of

Applied Science

Seal from

1882-1925.Image Property of Case Western Reserve University Archives

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1881-1886 – Case School of Applied Science

Case School of Applied

Science was located near

what is today’s Public

Square.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1885 – Case School of Applied Sciences

Case School of Applied

Sciences moves to

Case Main.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1886 – Fire Destroys Library

Case

Main Building

is destroyed

by fire.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1887 – Michelson-Morley Experiment

Provided the earliest direct evidence that

supported Einstein’s Theory of Relativity

Michelson Morley

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1888 – Case Main Rebuilt

Case

Main Building

is rebuilt.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1895 – Hatch Library

Henry Hatch gave funds

for the construction of

a library for

the students of Adelbert College.

Modified Copy of Image Property of Case Western Reserve University Archives

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1940 – Larger Library

Eckstein Case steps down as Treasurer and a larger library is established and

staffed by a librarian.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1941 – The General Library

The General Library was newly equipped in the

summer of 1940, housing 13,400 volumes, 1200

pamphlets and 130 current periodicals.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1941 – Departmental Libraries

Departmental libraries are maintained in the laboratories of Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics,

Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy and

Applied Mechanics.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1947 – Case Institute of Technology

Case School of Applied Science

becomes the Case Institute of Technology

(Seal from 1947-1967).Image Property of Case Western Reserve University Archives

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1960-61 – Library-Humanities Center

The Library-Humanities Center is built on the Case Quad. Materials from the main library and departmental libraries are combined to become the library for

the sciences, engineering, management, and economics.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1966 – Sears Library

Library-Humanities Center is

renamed for

Lester and Ruth Sears.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1967 - OCLC

The colleges and universities of Ohio foundedthe Ohio College Library Center (OCLC)

to develop a computerized system to share resources and reduce costs.

Dublin, Ohio Headquarters

Today serves more than 53,000 libraries

in 96 countries.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1967 – Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University was formed by the federation of

the Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University

(Seal from 1967-2004+).Image Property of Case Western Reserve University Archives

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1975 – Flood

Sears Library’s lower level is flooded and many materials

are beyond repair with some serials later replaced

with microfilm copies.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1976 – Dial-up Resources

Librarians start

performing

dial-up reference searches.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1977 – Technology & Services Improve

• Subscriptions to 1700 periodicals & newspapers

• Scientific-related government documents are added

• Technical service reports from outside organizations, such as NASA are added

• Computer room available for students

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1980 – Sears Library & Engineering

Sears Library sponsored

the Centennial Assembly

of Science and Engineering.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1981 – Faculty Access

Library receives grant

for faculty access

to 150 databases.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1983-84 – Improved Information Retrieval

An information retrieval system

was made available in self-

paced study rooms.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1986 – Online Library Catalog

Card catalog replaced with

an online catalog that shows the

holdings of all campus libraries.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1988/89 – IEEE Publications

Sears library adds a

CD-ROM tower complete with all IEEE journals,

proceedings, and papers.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1992 – OhioLINK is Born

Currently, provides access to the combined resources of 85

institutions.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1994-96 – Sears Library & the Internet

Sears Library begins offering services through the World Wide Web.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1996 – Kelvin Smith Library

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

1994 to present - Online Research Databases

Addition of major research resources including:• IEEE Research Database

• Chemical Abstracts Online

• Knovel Technical References

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

2004 – Wealth of Information & Services

8,000+ electronic journals

~300 research databases

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

2005 – College-Based Librarian Service (Nord 507)

Engineering, Mathematics, and Statistics Librarian located in

Case School of Engineering.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

2005 – Engineering Reading Room (Nord 508)

Services and resources provided through a virtual research center in Nord Hall 508.

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering

For More Information

Timeline Compiled by:Norma Sue Hanson, Head, Special CollectionsEarnestine Adeyemon, Electronic Resources LibrarianBrian Gray, Engineering, Math, & Statistics Librarian

Special thanks to:University ArchivesCase Western Reserve University10900 Euclid AvenueCleveland, OH 44106-7229

Kelvin Smith Library – Case School of Engineering