About Hekman Library

2024

• In anticipation of a renovated library space, Chimes publishes "The evolution of Hekman Library's learning community."
• Alma/Primo, a state-of-the-art library management and discovery system, replaces the open-source Evergreen system.
• The library's website undergoes a thorough overhaul to incorporate the new integrated library system.
• The renovated floors of Hekman Library (1-3) open in mid-August.

2022

• Calvin Digital Commons, Hekman's institutional repository begins, housing institutional and faculty publications for the university and seminary

2020

• Responding to the COVID crisis, seating limitations established.

2019

• Peet's Coffee added to Hekman Library.
• Wise Scholar, an information literacy framework is developed to help students living in an information-rich world how to integrate research practices and scholarly virtues.
• A large gift of children's literature and other book-related materials is received from Conrad and Delores Bult. Through the generosity of Robert and Shelley Hudson, the library was able to purchase the collection of the beloved reference librarian and add it to the Rare Book collection for the use of researchers and students alike. 
• Origins Online launches to tell the history of Calvin University, Calvin Seminary, and the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

2017

• Hekman staff fully integrate the library created for the Calvin Prison Initiative into the Library's general catalog. Taking 6 days and a lot of collaboration between CPI staff, MDOC, and the Hekman library staff, over 4000 books were processed and cataloged within the Handlon facility. This project provides a critical pipeline between the students in the CPI program and the Library on the Knollcrest campus. 

2016

• Onsite library for Handlon CPI students is developed.

2014

• Hekman Library holds its 10th annual disc golf tournament.

2012

• Heritage Hall and Rare Books are consolidated with a new reading room and renovation.

2013

• Books in the Baking highlight culinary expressions of students' favorite books.

2010

• The library's website is redesigned
• Evergreen, an integrated computer system designed to manage the operations within the library, replaces SIRSI

2008

• Hekman librarians, Kathy DeMey, Sarah Kolk, Diane Vander Pol, host the first "Building a Bridge" conference intended to increase communication between high school librarians and college librarians.
• The library staff zones the library in an attempt to control noise. The large 4th floor study area is built.

2007

• Students are employed at the Research Assistance Desk to help librarians answer research questions
• Chat (IM) is introduced as another way to contact librarians for research assistance 
• Library celebrates its 40th year as a United States Government Documents repository

2005

• The library's website is redesigned using a content management system (CMS) 
• Librarians join forces with English professors to teach research fluency in English 101
• First Annual Disc Golf Tournament is held in the Hekman Library

• KnightCite, one of the most popular citation generators on the Web, is introduced by Calvin's Justin Searls (student programmer) and Greg Sennema 
• First issue of the Library Privy is published

2004

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1976

• Hekman Library installs an OCLC cathode ray terminal in the Cataloging workroom which permitted us to access the Ohio College Library Center database housed in Columbus, OH. Now known as OCLC, this database allows libraries to share the books and periodicals they own with other libraries around the world. 

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1928