Historical Timeline
The Noreen Reale Falcone Library has been in operation since the College began in 1946. At that time it was housed in Le Moyne Hall on 254 East Onondaga Street along with the first classroom and the first headquarters for Le Moyne College. Through the efforts of Rev. Andrew L. Bouwhuis, S.J., the nucleus of the Library was formed with 5,000 volumes. The Library has been in its new location at the southwest corner of the campus since September 1981. It was named for alumna Noreen Reale Falcone in 1998.
| 1946 | College founded. Library located at Le Moyne Hall. First librarian appointed--M. Catherine Kenna. |
| 1947 | Rev. Theodore J. Cunnion, S.J. appointed Library Director. |
| 1948 | Library moves into second floor of the new Administration Building (presently Grewen Hall). |
| 1951 | Library houses 16,500 volumes |
| 1960 | Rev. Andrew L. Bouwhuis, S.J. appointed Library Director. Over 40,000 volumes contained in collections. |
| 1963 | Dr. Taisto J. Niemi appointed Library Director. Library obtains former cafeteria on first floor of Grewen Hall for more space. |
| 1964 | Audio-visual services established. |
| 1970 | Library acquires three classrooms in Grewen Hall. Library increases holdings to 98,402 volumes. |
| 1976 | Joins OCLC Network (Online Computer Library Center) computer terminal to this system installed. |
| 1979 | New library site dedicated June 14. |
| 1980 | Groundbreaking ceremonies held April 22. Construction begins on new Library. |
| 1981 | Library moved to 250,000-volume capacity building in August. Sadly, Dr. Niemi who dreamed and planned for the new library for many years, passes away two months after the Library opens. |
| 1987 | Professional staff expands from 4 to 5 librarians. |
| 1994 | Professional staff expands from 5 to 6. Automated library system installed. |
| 1996 | First floor renovation provides for Academic Support Center’s move to the Library, adds multimedia lab, offices, and consolidates public services. |
| 1997 | Theresa Santillo retires after 45 years as Assistant to the Director of the Library. Student service award in her name established. |
| 1998 | Noreen Reale Falcone Library is dedicated on May 9 in honor of alumna Noreen Falcone. Gift of the Michael J. Falcone Family. |
| 2000 | Tatyana V. Popovic Memorial Archives and Special Collection is built with funds donated by Gina (Popovic) and Robert Goldhammer. |
| 2001 | Muserlian Instructional Lab is constructed on the first floor. Gift of Theodora Muserlian in honor of Peter Muserlian. |
| 2003 | Wireless computer network installed. Library print collections near capacity. Back-volumes of print journals withdrawn in favor of JSTOR facsimile back-volume service. |
| 2008 | Information Technology Help Desk moves to the Library in May. |
| 2012 | Reorganization of public services and establishment of a single service desk. Education collections moved to second floor. Library enters patron-driven acquisition plan with ConnectNY Consortium E-book Project with EBL company. |
| 2013 | First floor reconfiguration completed by removing reference desk and office, adding 3 media viewing rooms & group study areas. Library joins ConnectNY Print Trust to begin to compare and assess cooperative retention of print monographs. |
| 2017 |
Renovation, phase 1, construction of the Quantitative Reasoning Center, a Writing Center, and a renovated Student Success Center, along with renovated library staff offices, relocating technical services and the offices for Academic Technology. |
| 2018 |
Renovation, phase 2, remodels the remaining areas of the first floor (library and IT service desks, Disability Services), moving the Muserlian lab to the second floor and the Bernat Room to the rear of the first floor. |
| 2020 |
Face-to-face reference service continues through virtual means using Zoom conferencing software during the COVID-19 pandemic. Library remains open August 2020 through the 2020-21 academic year.
|
Library Directors
Rev. Theodore J. Cunnion, S.J., 1947 - 1960
Rev. Andrew Bouwhuis, S.J., 1960 - 1963
Taisto J. Niemi, 1963 - 1981
James J. Simonis, 1982 - 2007
Robert C. Johnston, 2007 - 2017
Inga H. Barnello, 2018 - 2022
Lisa A. Chaudhuri, 2022 - present
Staff Honors and Awards
Bene Merenti Award Recipients
- Theresa A. Santillo, 1972
- Tanya Popovic, 1985
- Inga H. Barnello, 2002
- James J. Simonis, 2002
- Sophie Harris, 2008
- Patricia Mason, 2008
- Gretchen E. Pearson, 2009
- Betty Schindler, 2009
- I-Chene Tai, 2014
- Robert L. Cook, 2017
Loyola Award Recipient for 40 years
- Theresa A. Santillo, 1992
- Inga H. Barnello, 2022
Magis Award
- Robert L. Cook, 2017