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  A Helping Hand

  Angela L. Bonnell

  Milner developed a library collection of varied formats to meet a variety of needs. She provided classroom instruction and reference assistance to help students make use of the collections but felt “…the pupils are best off when they learn how to help themselves." Under Milner’s helpful direction students used the collections and her services hand in hand to conduct their research.

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  Cook Hall, 1898-1914

  Angela L. Bonnell

  Cook Hall was built in 1898 to serve the dual purposes of the gymnasium (as the building was referred to at the time) and the library. The library was a single room (49′×90′) located on the second floor above the gym.

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  Serving Students: The Legacy of Milner's Library

  Angela L. Bonnell

  Illinois State University has known five libraries in its 160-year history. From its humble origins in a 160-square foot space carved out from an entryway, to its current six-floor site, each library has offered improvements over its predecessor. Each location seeking to anticipate and accommodate the changing needs of its students through improved services, collections, facilities and technology. We owe our student-centered philosophy to the University’s first fulltime librarian, Ange. V. Milner. Over the course of Milner’s nearly 40-year career, she created a library integrated into the curriculum and research needs of the University. The ideals she held and practices she introduced have served as a model to successive generations of librarians. This exhibit offers a glimpse into Milner’s forward-thinking initiatives that laid the foundation for today’s library named in her honor.