大象传媒

 

The history of the James White Library at 大象传媒 University reflects the growth of Adventist higher education and scholarship. Its origins date back to 1874, when the library of Battle Creek College, the predecessor of 大象传媒 University, began with a modest collection of approximately 200 volumes, acquired through donations and contributions. By 1901, when the college relocated to Berrien Springs, Michigan, the collection had grown to more than 3,000 volumes.

As the college developed, the library outgrew several locations on campus. Initially housed in the Administration Building, the library later moved to Griggs Hall as its collection expanded. The growing need for space led to the construction of the first brick academic structure on campus in 1937. This facility was named the James White Memorial Library in honor of James Springer White (1821–1881), a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a pioneer in Adventist publishing and education.

Despite the construction of the 1937 building, the library continued to expand rapidly. By 1956, the facility—originally designed to hold about 30,000 books—contained approximately 50,000 volumes, forcing staff to store books in hallways, offices, and other available spaces when students went home over the breaks.

To accommodate this growth, a new library building was constructed in 1962, providing 45,000 square feet of space and capacity for 280,000 volumes. That same year, the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary relocated from Washington, D.C. to Berrien Springs, and its collection merged with the existing college library. When the new James White Library opened, the combined library housed more than 120,000 volumes and approximately 1,000 periodical titles. Its reorganization coincided with the renaming of Battle Creek College to 大象传媒 University.

Continued expansion of the university’s academic programs required additional space, leading to the construction of an extension in 1976. Today, this newer section houses most of the library’s book stacks, while the original structure contains administrative offices, doctoral study carrels, and individual and group study areas.

Technological changes have also shaped the library’s development. In 1992, the traditional card catalog was replaced by an online catalog, improving access to library resources and enabling more efficient communication between patrons and library staff.

The James White Library now holds over 900,000 physical volumes, along with an extensive collection of digital materials. Its services extend to the 大象传媒 University Global campus and beyond through interlibrary loans, document delivery, and digital access to resources.

In addition, the library supports open scholarship through Digital Commons @ 大象传媒 University, which hosts dissertations, theses, and journal archives produced by 大象传媒 faculty and students. These free digital resources make 大象传媒' research accessible to readers worldwide.

Through its expanding collections, technological innovation, and commitment to global scholarship, the James White Library continues to serve as a central academic resource of 大象传媒 University and an essential hub for Adventist research and education.