Groundbreaking and Golden Jubilee: 50 Years of the UNO Library and the People who make it Possible celebrates half a century of the UNO Library, 1976-2026, through photos and posters of people and events. 

Originally known as the University Library, the groundbreaking for the building occurred in the fall of 1974. The library was dedicated on September 12, 1976 and opened for campus and community. Renovations, additions, and upgrades have occurred periodically over the course of 50 years, including the Dr. Guinter Kahn Addition and renaming of the library to the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library in 2006, and the expansions and dedications of the Creative Production Lab and Archives and Special Collections in 2015.  

Throughout all these changes, the library employees continue to provide services, facilitate research, support students, faculty, staff, and community, and participate in their own scholarship and service endeavors. The library continues to be the scholastic and community hub of the UNO campus because the people here make the work of campus possible.  

The posters and most of the photos used in this exhibit are from the UNO Archives and Special Collections department, with some photos from UNO MarComm. To learn more about the history of the library, contact the Archives and Special Collections department. This exhibit was curated by Claire Dunker, Outreach Archivist.