06/01/2026
On this day in 1998, Halle Library opened its doors to the Eastern Michigan University community.
At the time, the library was described as a "cybrary," reflecting its blend of traditional library collections and emerging technologies. The new building featured hundreds of computer workstations, multimedia labs, network connections throughout the facility, an automated retrieval system, collaborative study spaces, and a vision for supporting learning in new ways.
Nearly three decades later, much has changed. The technology has evolved. Services have adapted. Spaces have been renovated and reimagined. Students now carry devices more powerful than many of the computers that filled the building in 1998.
For 28 years, Halle Library has been a place to study, research, create, collaborate, teach, discover, and connect. It has supported generations of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members while continuing to evolve alongside the university it serves.
One of our favorite opening stories happened before the library welcomed its first visitors. On April 16, 1998, more than 400 students, faculty, staff, administrators, community members, and children from EMU's Children's Institute formed a 900-foot human chain to help move books from the previous library building (currently CHHS/Porter) into Halle Library. The first book passed was an 1852 teaching text from the university's first library.
The clock tower still stands, the carillon still plays, the ARC still retrieves materials, and thousands of people continue to make Halle Library part of their EMU experience. Thank you to everyone who has studied, worked, taught, learned, researched, collaborated, and built community here over the past 28 years.
Here's to the next chapter. 💚
