UNO Magazine: Pages, Pixels and People — The Evolution of Criss Library

The story below appeared in the Summer 2024 edition of UNO Magazine.

The University of Omaha established a library in 1912, four years after its founding, in response to student requests. By 1928, a collection of 5,000 volumes was held in Joslyn Hall, located at 24th & Pratt. The Gateway student newspaper covered this milestone and hoped, “the library will be made a place where one can really study, and not a place to get together and play.”

When the University of Omaha moved to its current location at 60th & Dodge Streets in 1938, the library relocated to the northeast wing of what is now the Arts and Sciences Hall (ASH). Amidst World War II veterans returning home and the Baby Boomer generation reaching college age, the university faced an increasing demand for classrooms. In 1945, the library moved to the Eppley Building and remained there through the 1968 university integration into the University of Nebraska system and the evolution into the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

“The library was designed to meet the growing needs of not only the expanded student body that chose the new University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), but also their evolving needs,” said Amy Schindler, director of Archives and Special Collections. “This was through increased space for books, studying and instruction labs as well as offering a place of beauty and solace.”

In 1974, construction began on the $5.1 million University Library building, later to be renamed the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library. At that time, UNO was a commuter campus, and the new library provided an essential space for its 15,000 students. In 2005, the Dr. Guinter Kahn addition included a Library Café, the Archives and Special Collections unit and the Creative Production Lab makerspace.

Fifty years after its groundbreaking, Criss Library continues to evolve to best serve the UNO community, adjust to changing technology and media formats, respond to student’s needs and provide vital campus and community services.

Earlier this year, a Starbucks opened on the first floor. The Creative Production Lab (CPL), whose services are increasingly in demand by students and faculty, will expand into the former Library Café in the fall of 2024.

“Changes like the CPL expansion and the addition of Starbucks shows how today’s academics pivot to meet student expectations,” said Dave Richards, dean of Library Services. “The library of the future will most likely contain more private and group study spaces.”

As the campus footprint and buildings have changed, one thing remains: the library is a prime space for the UNO community to go to for studying, socializing, collaborating and more.

Visit the Creative Production Lab for 3D printing, podcasting, and laser etching; re-visit Omaha or University history in the Archives and Special Collections reading room; relax with a beverage from Starbucks; or discover a great work of literature within the stacks of the library’s quiet third floor.