Stony Brook University Libraries are known for a wide-range of print and digital resources and world renowned Special Collections. The Libraries belong to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), with a Health Sciences Center Library that is a member of the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries. The libraries are engaged in ambitious and dynamic strategic planning (2015-2018). The collection exceeds 2 million volumes, including e-books, print and electronic holdings of scholarly subscriptions, microforms, music recordings, and a sizeable map collection. The SBU Libraries include 6 distinct facilities, including Melville Library, Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Chemistry, Math/Physics, Southampton and Health Sciences Libraries, and SUNY Korea-SBU campus.
The University Libraries stand as the largest academic research library on Long Island, serving as a resource in the local community, state-wide, and nationally and internationally. The Libraries maintain memberships and affiliations in arXiv, Association of Research Libraries, SPARC, Center for Research Libraries, SUNY Connect, DuraSpace (as a SUNY Member) the council on Library and Information Resources, Digital Library Federation, Coalition of Networked Information, EDUCAUSE, Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, Roper Center, OCLC Research Library Partnership, and ORCID through the National Network of the National Libraries of Medicine.
The Libraries utilize Ex Libris’ Aleph for its integrated library system and have recently deployed EBSCO’s Discovery Service. DSpace, Content DM, and Omeka are used for managing digital assets and a growing Institutional Repository.
The Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library is the main library at Stony Brook University. It is named for the father of philanthropist Ward Melville. The original library opened in July 1963 with seating for 700 students. The design was modular; the intent was to increase the footprint of the building to keep pace with the university’s rapidly expanding programs and growing enrollment. In 1965, the library had a print collection of 100,000 volumes. Less than three years later, nearly 270,000 items comprised the collection, covering many disciplines, including science, music, and government documents. Today, the University Libraries stand as the largest academic research library on Long Island, serving as a resource in the local community, state-wide, and nationally through the National Network of the National Libraries of Medicine. In Melville Library alone, North and Central Reading Rooms have seating for almost 1,000 students, 1,200 outlets, 60 WiFi points, 92 desktop computers, 5 printers, and 4 copy/scan machines.
Renovation of Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library
Timeline
1963: Library opens on Stony Brook University main campus. Roscoe Rouse named Library Director.
1967: Construction begins on the “Bridge to Nowhere” that will eventually connect the Stony Brook Union to the Library. Ruben Weltsch replaces Rouse as Library Director.
1971: After a major expansion, the library reopens under the name “Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library” in honor of Ward Melville’s father.
1972: Joseph Gantner takes over as Acting Library Director.
1974: John Brewster Smith named Dean and Director of Libraries.
1977: The “Bridge to Nowhere” is completed and dedicated, connecting Melville Library to the Student Union. It measured 30 feet wide and 475 feet long.
1981: Former US Senator Jacob Javits donates his papers, which cover his 34 years of public life, to the Special Collections Department of the Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library.
February 1989: Celebration of Melville Library’s 25th anniversary as Government Federal Depository.
April 1994: President Marburger portrait unveiled and displayed in Melville Library.
August 1996: Joseph K. Branin named Dean and Director of Libraries.
December 1999: Charles W. Simpson named Interim Dean and Director of Libraries.
August 2000: E. Christian Filstrup named Dean and Director of Libraries.
April 2002: The Frank Melville, Jr. Memorial Library receives a steel sculpture designed by noted graphic artist Milton Glazer.
May 2002: The legendary “Bridge to Nowhere” is demolished. The bridge, originally intended to connect the Stony Brook Union and the library, was the butt of jokes and a focal center around which campus events were held after its completion in 1977.
September 2002: Frank Melville, Jr. Memorial Library celebrates the official opening of the AIDC 100 Archive at Stony Brook University. Funded in perpetuity by members of the bar code industry, the archive is established to document the history and evolution of the development of AIDC related technologies.
October 2009: Stony Brook Southampton heralded the campus’ newly built library, the first LEED-Certified library on Long Island.
December 2010: Andrew White named Interim Dean and Director of Libraries.
January 2013: Daniel Kinney named Interim Dean and Director of Libraries.
September 2013: SUNY Distinguished Librarian, Constantia Constantinou, named Dean of University Libraries.
September 2015: President Stanley announced a new plan to renovate and update the Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library.
January 2016: Construction begins on North Reading Room renovation.
May 2016: North Reading Room opens. Central Reading Room closes for renovation.
September 2016: Central Reading Room opens. “Stony Brook Foundation Knowledge Commons” sign installed in North Reading Room. Official ribbon cutting ceremony and reading rooms unveiling.
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