McCartney Library
Encyclopedia
McCartney Library is an academic library
located on the campus of Geneva College
in Beaver Falls
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The building is named after the influential evangelical minister Dr. Clarence E. Macartney
who grew up in Fern Cliffe House when the college moved to Beaver Falls in 1880.
Today, the library consists of more than 400,000 items available to students and professors as well as surrounding community members. There is an online database for the library, and also an online catalog called "MacCat". The library includes a newly refurbished media center located on the ground floor and also houses collections of books about the college and the history of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
, along with many other sources in the Covenanter Collection, the Geneva Author Collection, and Dr. Macartney's private collection; developed over the 160 year history of Geneva College.
Some of the most notable features of the library are the beautiful and ornate stained glass windows, which were created by Harry Lee Willet, a friend of Macartney and a prominent glass maker who owned one of the largest glass making companies in the United States. The Reading Rooms of the library each house a glass window which stands an astounding fifteen feet. One of the windows depicts John Bunyan
's The Pilgrim's Progress
, and the other, John Milton
's Paradise Lost
. The history of the Paradise Lost window and the story that is told by it is given in the book Paradise Lost Windows: A Story in Lead and Light by Shirley J. Kilpatrick and M. Howard Mattsson-Bozé, two Geneva professors.
, the Washington National Cathedral
and the Chapel of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Willet Studios still exists, having merged in 2005 with the Hauser Art Glass Company to become the Willet Hauser Architectural Glass
. It is the largest stained glass
company in North America, and has creations in over 14 countries. The Library's Reading Rooms house the two windows, each standing fifteen feet tall. One of the windows provides an artistic depiction of John Bunyan
's The Pilgrim's Progress
, and the other is a depiction of John Milton
's Paradise Lost
.
, one of the oldest foundries in the United States. They are also inscribed with psalms and excerpts from Alfred, Lord Tennyson's In Memoriam
. The Deal Carillon has the special McShane Chime Ringer system, which enables the Carillon to be played as a musical instrument by using a special keyboard.
, many of which have been donated to the library.
, and newspapers to which the Library subscribes. Printed indexes, which provide citations by topic to specific periodical articles, are also part of this collection.
collection, the Library of American Civilization, and part of the ERIC education document collection.
, CD-ROM
multimedia products, and audio-visual kits.
tradition. Included in the collection are works about Covenanter theology and history, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
, and some of the denomination’s individual congregations. These materials can be accessed with the help of a librarian
.
and nonfiction books, including John Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal
winning titles.
All information is referenced in the Guide to McCartney Library 2008-09
Academic library
An academic library is a library that is attached to academic institutions above the secondary level, serving the teaching and research needs of students and staff...
located on the campus of Geneva College
Geneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
in Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The building is named after the influential evangelical minister Dr. Clarence E. Macartney
Clarence E. Macartney
Clarence Edward Noble Macartney was a prominent conservative Presbyterian pastor and author. With J...
who grew up in Fern Cliffe House when the college moved to Beaver Falls in 1880.
Today, the library consists of more than 400,000 items available to students and professors as well as surrounding community members. There is an online database for the library, and also an online catalog called "MacCat". The library includes a newly refurbished media center located on the ground floor and also houses collections of books about the college and the history of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America , a Christian church, is a small Presbyterian denomination with churches throughout the United States, in southeastern Canada, and in a small part of Japan. Its beliefs place it in the conservative wing of the Reformed family of Protestant churches...
, along with many other sources in the Covenanter Collection, the Geneva Author Collection, and Dr. Macartney's private collection; developed over the 160 year history of Geneva College.
Mission statement
The McCartney Library's mission is to provide the students, faculty, and friends of Geneva College with the information service, books, journals, pamphlets, microforms, electronic data, audio-visual media, and instructional presentation materials needed to educate and minister to a diverse Christian learning community. Library materials and service are for the purpose of developing servant-leaders and to assist them in transforming society for the Kingdom of Christ. To this end, the Library collects, organizes, and circulates the learning resources in an efficient and effective manner to meet their general informational and recreational needs, and to encourage the development of lifelong learning skills.History
In the 1930s, S.J., E.J., and S.M. Deal (three sisters from Clarence E. Macartney's congregation) donated the funds for the construction of a college library in honor of their pastor. They employed architect and designer, William G. Eckles, who also designed Geneva’s Johnston Gymnasium and McKee Hall, to design the library. More on the architecture and history of the constructing of the library can be found in the book, Pro Christo et Patria: A History of Geneva College, by David M. Carson.Some of the most notable features of the library are the beautiful and ornate stained glass windows, which were created by Harry Lee Willet, a friend of Macartney and a prominent glass maker who owned one of the largest glass making companies in the United States. The Reading Rooms of the library each house a glass window which stands an astounding fifteen feet. One of the windows depicts John Bunyan
John Bunyan
John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on 29 August.-Life:In 1628,...
's The Pilgrim's Progress
The Pilgrim's Progress
The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan and published in February, 1678. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been...
, and the other, John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
's Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
. The history of the Paradise Lost window and the story that is told by it is given in the book Paradise Lost Windows: A Story in Lead and Light by Shirley J. Kilpatrick and M. Howard Mattsson-Bozé, two Geneva professors.
Willet Windows
One notable feature of the Library is its stained glass windows. Henry Lee Willet of Willet Stained Glass Studios, was commissioned by the Deal sisters to design and produce both of the eighteen-paneled windows in each reading room of the McCartney Library. Willet, who was a close friend of Clarence E. Macartney, was thrilled to take the project. Willet was one of the foremost stained glass makers of his time. Among his other commissions are windows at the Chapel at the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, the Washington National Cathedral
Washington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Of neogothic design, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in...
and the Chapel of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Willet Studios still exists, having merged in 2005 with the Hauser Art Glass Company to become the Willet Hauser Architectural Glass
Willet Hauser Architectural Glass
- Sculptured gold windows :Henry Willet created the first sculptured gold window between 1948-49. When first devised, the sculptured gold overlay was based on leaded stained glass windows. Later, faceted glass set in epoxy resin was used...
. It is the largest stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
company in North America, and has creations in over 14 countries. The Library's Reading Rooms house the two windows, each standing fifteen feet tall. One of the windows provides an artistic depiction of John Bunyan
John Bunyan
John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on 29 August.-Life:In 1628,...
's The Pilgrim's Progress
The Pilgrim's Progress
The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan and published in February, 1678. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been...
, and the other is a depiction of John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
's Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
.
Deal Carillon
Another feature of the library building is the Deal Carillon located in the building's bell tower. The Deal Carillon is an array of 14 bells, ranging in weight from 350 to 3,000 pounds. The bells were cast by the McShane Bell FoundryMcShane Bell Foundry
The McShane Bell Foundry, located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, is a maker of church bells. Since its founding in 1856 by Henry McShane, it has produced over 300,000 bells; at one time, the foundry also produced pipes and plumbing fixtures...
, one of the oldest foundries in the United States. They are also inscribed with psalms and excerpts from Alfred, Lord Tennyson's In Memoriam
In Memoriam A.H.H.
In Memoriam A.H.H. is a poem by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, completed in 1849. It is a requiem for the poet's Cambridge friend Arthur Henry Hallam, who died suddenly of a cerebral haemorrhage in Vienna in 1833...
. The Deal Carillon has the special McShane Chime Ringer system, which enables the Carillon to be played as a musical instrument by using a special keyboard.
McCartney Library Collections
McCartney Library contains a variety of special collectionsSpecial collections
In library science, special collections is the name applied to a specific repository or department, usually within a library, which stores materials of a "special" nature, including rare books, archives, and collected manuscripts...
, many of which have been donated to the library.
Main Collection
The main collection is housed on all four levels of the Library. The largest of the Library’s collections, it consists of books on numerous subjects that users may check out for a loan period of 21 days.Reference Collection
The Reference collection, which is located primarily in the Buhl Reference Center, contains dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other resources to provide basic information on a variety of subject areas. The Buhl Reference Center also houses several computers designated for screening the Library’s online databases and CD-ROM collection.Reserve Collection
This collection consists of items that instructors place on “reserve” to assure that the students in a particular course will have access to them. Most reserve materials are shelved at Circulation Services, although newspapers and media are kept in the Media Center. Reserve materials are either “library use only” (two hour loan) or may circulate for one, two, or seven days per the professor’s request.Periodicals Collection
The periodicals collection on the Library’s ground floor consists of both current and back issues of the magazines, journalsAcademic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
, and newspapers to which the Library subscribes. Printed indexes, which provide citations by topic to specific periodical articles, are also part of this collection.
Geneva Author Collection
The Geneva Author collection is composed of works written by College faculty, staff, alumni, and students. The collection is showcased in the “Geneva Author Shelf,” founded by the Helen Patterson Hill Library Endowment. There are over 2,000 items in the collection.Microform Collection
The microform collection, located in the Periodicals area on the ground floor, contains microfiche, microfilm, microcards, and ultramicrofiche. Among the materials that the Library owns in these media are back issues of journals and newspapers, the Early American ImprintsEarly American Imprints
Early American Imprints is a microopaque card collection produced by Readex Microprint. It is based on Evan's American Bibliography and on Shaw-Shoemaker's American Bibliography and contains the full text of all known existing books, pamphlets, and broadsides printed in the United States from...
collection, the Library of American Civilization, and part of the ERIC education document collection.
Audio-Visual Collection
The Media Center contains the Library’s audio-visual collection. The collection features recordings, audiocassettes, videocassettes, DVDs, slides, computer softwareComputer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
, CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
multimedia products, and audio-visual kits.
Covenanter Collection
The Covenanter Collection, located on stack level three, contains books, pamphlets, and periodicals relating the CovenanterCovenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
tradition. Included in the collection are works about Covenanter theology and history, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America , a Christian church, is a small Presbyterian denomination with churches throughout the United States, in southeastern Canada, and in a small part of Japan. Its beliefs place it in the conservative wing of the Reformed family of Protestant churches...
, and some of the denomination’s individual congregations. These materials can be accessed with the help of a librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
.
Macartney Collection
Clarence Macartney bequeathed his substantial library to the McCartney Library. The theological portion of the Macartney Collection is housed in the Library’s tower room. The remainder of the collection is housed in the compact shelving located on the Library’s ground floor. The Collection is composed primarily of the personal library and papers of Clarence Edward Noble Macartney, a prominent American preacher and church leader during the first half of the twentieth century. The books in the collection reflect Dr. Macartney’s interests in preaching, public speaking, religion, and U.S. Civil War history. These materials can be accessed with the help of a librarian.Juvenile Materials
The Children's Collection is located in the West Reading Room. The collection contains children’s fictionFiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
and nonfiction books, including John Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal
Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
winning titles.