McCartney Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McCartney Library |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Established | 1930 |
| Location | Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania |
| Collection | |
| Size | 400,000 items |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | Campus and surrounding community |
| Website | http://www.geneva.edu/page/library |
The McCartney Library is a special library found on the campus of Geneva College. This college is located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States. The library is named after Dr. Clarence E. Macartney. He was an important minister who lived in the area.
Today, the library holds over 400,000 items. These items are available for students, professors, and people from the community. You can find an online catalog called "MacCat" to search for books. The library also has a modern media center. It keeps special collections about the college's history. There are also books about the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. Other collections include the Covenanter Collection and Dr. Macartney's own books.
Contents
What the Library Does
The McCartney Library wants to help students, teachers, and friends of Geneva College. It provides information, books, and journals. It also offers digital data and audio-visual materials. The goal is to help students learn and grow as leaders. The library collects and organizes resources. This helps everyone find what they need easily. It also encourages people to keep learning throughout their lives.
Library History
In the 1930s, three sisters named S.J., E.J., and S.M. Deal gave money. They wanted to build a college library to honor their pastor, Clarence E. Macartney. They hired William G. Eckles to design the building. He also designed other buildings at Geneva College. You can read more about the library's design in the book Pro Christo et Patria: A History of Geneva College.
The library has beautiful stained glass windows. These were made by Harry Lee Willet. He was a friend of Macartney and a famous glass maker. Each of the main reading rooms has a window that is 15 feet tall. One window shows scenes from John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. The other shows parts of John Milton's Paradise Lost. A book called Paradise Lost Windows: A Story in Lead and Light tells the story of that window.
Amazing Stained Glass Windows
A very special part of the library is its stained glass windows. Henry Lee Willet was asked to design these windows. He created two large windows, each with eighteen panels. These windows are in the library's reading rooms. Willet was a close friend of Clarence E. Macartney. He was excited to work on this project.
Willet was one of the best stained glass makers of his time. His work can be seen in famous places. These include the Chapel at the United Nations and the Washington National Cathedral. His company, now called Willet Hauser Architectural Glass, is still around today. It is the biggest stained glass company in North America. Its art is in over 14 countries!
The library's two windows are each fifteen feet tall. One window shows pictures from John Bunyan's famous book, The Pilgrim's Progress. The other window shows scenes from John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost.
The Deal Carillon Bells
Another cool feature of the library is the Deal Carillon. This is a set of 14 bells located in the building's bell tower. The bells are quite heavy! They range from 350 pounds to 3,000 pounds. The McShane Bell Foundry made these bells. This is one of the oldest bell-making companies in the United States.
Each bell has special words carved into it. These words are from psalms and from Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem In Memoriam. The Deal Carillon has a special system. It allows the bells to be played like a musical instrument. A special keyboard is used to play beautiful tunes.
Library Collections
McCartney Library has many different collections of materials. Many of these have been given to the library as gifts.
Main Books and Resources
The main collection of books is found on all four floors of the library. This is the biggest collection. It has books on many different topics. You can borrow these books for 21 days.
The Reference collection is in the Buhl Reference Center. It has dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other books. These books give basic information on many subjects. The Buhl Reference Center also has computers. You can use them to search the library's online databases.
Books on Reserve
This collection holds items that teachers want their students to use. These items are put "on reserve." This makes sure that all students in a class can access them. Most reserve materials are kept at the Circulation Desk. Newspapers and media are in the Media Center. Some reserve items can only be used inside the library for two hours. Others can be borrowed for one, two, or seven days. This depends on what the professor asks for.
Magazines and Newspapers
The periodicals collection is on the ground floor. It has current and older issues of magazines, journals, and newspapers. These are publications the library subscribes to. You can also find printed indexes here. These help you find specific articles by topic.
Books by Geneva Authors
The Geneva Author collection features works written by people connected to the college. This includes teachers, staff, former students, and current students. This collection is shown on the "Geneva Author Shelf." It has over 2,000 items.
Audio and Video Collection
The Media Center holds the library's audio-visual collection. This collection includes recordings, audiocassettes, videocassettes, DVDs, and slides. It also has computer software and CD-ROM products.
Covenanter History Books
The Covenanter Collection is on the third floor. It has books, pamphlets, and magazines about the Covenanter tradition. This includes works about their beliefs and history. It also covers the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. If you need help finding these materials, a librarian can assist you.
Dr. Macartney's Own Books
Clarence Macartney left his large personal library to the McCartney Library. The books about religion from his collection are in the library's tower room. The rest of his collection is on the ground floor. This collection mostly contains Dr. Macartney's own books and papers. He was a well-known American preacher and church leader. The books show his interests in preaching, public speaking, religion, and U.S. Civil War history. A librarian can help you access these materials.
Books for Younger Readers
The Children's Collection is in the West Reading Room. This collection has fiction and nonfiction books for children. It includes books that have won famous awards. These include the John Newbery Medal and the Caldecott Medal.
