Fresno State Library

The library was established in 1911{{cite web|title=A Brief History of The Madden Library|url=http://libguides.csufresno.edu/about|publisher=California State University, Fresno|accessdate=January 8, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031003254/http://libguides.csufresno.edu/about|archivedate=October 31, 2012}} and it was named after former library dean Henry Madden in 1981. The university's Board of Trustees voted to rename the library in 2022 due to controversy regarding Madden's political views (see below).

In 2009, the library underwent a major $105 million renovation that was largely financed by a multi-million-dollar endowment from the Table Mountain casino, operated by the Chukchansi tribes of California.{{cite news|title=Central California library receives $10 million gift from tribe|url=http://www.fresnostatenews.com/archive/2006/12/librarygift.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522025203/http://www.fresnostatenews.com/archive/2006/12/librarygift.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 22, 2010|accessdate=January 8, 2013|newspaper=Fresno State News|date=December 14, 2006}}

Michael Gorman, another former dean of the library, was the president of the American Library Association in 2005–2006.

In November 2021, Fresno State's president, Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, announced that a task force had been created to investigate renaming the library due to information that had come to light recently concerning Henry Madden's "deeply held anti-Semitic views and Nazi sympathies."{{cite news |last=Calix |first=Brianna |date=November 29, 2021 |title=Fresno State’s Madden Library facing name change after ‘Nazi sympathies’ discovered |url=https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/education-lab/article256211627.html |work=Fresno Bee |access-date=November 30, 2021}} The task force reviewed over 100,000 letters and documents donated to the library after Madden's death which had been curated by the former librarian and contained anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi views. “While Dr. Madden had the opportunity later in life to reflect on those views, there is no evidence that he renounced those views."{{Cite web |date=2022-07-14 |title=Fresno State library name removed due to namesake's beliefs |url=https://apnews.com/article/california-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-fresno-f78e93190015d2017f7359bcdb3f3c64 |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}

On July 14, 2022, the Fresno State Board of Trustees voted to rename the Henry Madden Library.{{cite news |last=Martinez |first=Christian |date=July 14, 2022 |title=Fresno State will rename library named after Nazi sympathizer |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-14/fresno-state-will-rename-library-named-after-nazi-sympathizer |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=July 15, 2022}}{{cite news |last=Hornbuckle |first=Del |date=July 14, 2022 |title=Fresno State Library seeks truth and understanding as it moves beyond name controversy |url=https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article263442103.html |work=Fresno Bee |access-date=July 15, 2022}}

The newest, main building was designed by AC Martin and Partners and is based on elements derived from Native American basket weaving, as is evidenced in the façade and interior of the building.{{cite web |url=http://www.archnewsnow.com/features/Feature231.htm |title=Native American History in Tomorrow's Library: Henry Madden Library at California State University, Fresno, by AC Martin Partners in association with RMJM Hillier |publisher=ArchNewsNow |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=April 3, 2022}}

The library contains 1.13 million volumes{{cite web |url=http://www.fresnostate.edu/home/stories/we_illuminate.htm |title=We Illuminate: The Henry Madden Library at Fresno State |website=Fresno State |access-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227035611/http://www.fresnostate.edu/home/stories/we_illuminate.htm |archive-date=December 27, 2012}} in 370,000 sq feet, placing it among the largest libraries in the California State University system. The library is home to the largest installation of compact shelving on any single floor in the United States. The shelves amount to over 20 miles in length.{{cite web |url=http://www.csufresno.edu/facilitiesmanagement/projects/library/index.shtml |title=Henry Madden Library |website=California State University, Fresno |access-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007115447/http://www.csufresno.edu/facilitiesmanagement/projects/library/index.shtml |archive-date=October 7, 2008}} It is currently the third largest library in the CSU system (in terms of square footage), and among the top ten largest in the CSU system based on the number of volumes. It also is the largest academic building on the Fresno State campus.{{cite web |url=http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek07/0126/0126d_pw.cfm |title=Native American Tribe's Gift Helps A.C Martin Partners, Hillier Realize New Library in Fresno |last=Boniface |first=Russell |website=ALArchitect |date=January 26, 2007 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821100837/http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek07/0126/0126d_pw.cfm |archive-date=August 21, 2007}}

The library features a number of special collections such as:

• The [https://library.fresnostate.edu/find/arne-nixon Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature], a research center with over 55,000 books and manuscripts, the oldest dating back to 1865, one of the largest collections west of the Mississippi.
• Woodward Special Collections Research Center, containing the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130116035903/http://www.cvparchive.org/ Central Valley Political Archive].
• 15 photographs by Ansel Adams
• Federal and California Government depository collection{{cite web|url=http://libguides.csufresno.edu/govinfocollections|title=Overview & Access - Government Information Collections - Research Guides at California State University Fresno|publisher=Libguides.csufresno.edu|date=2012-10-15|accessdate=2013-09-28}}

The oldest book in the collection is a 1474 copy of Vita Christi (The life of Christ) by Ludolph of Saxony in two volumes, acquired in 1963.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Henry Madden Library}}

• [https://library.fresnostate.edu/ Main website]

{{California State University, Fresno}}

{{Fresno, California}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:1911 establishments in California

Category:Buildings and structures in Fresno, California

Category:California State University, Fresno

Category:Libraries in California

Category:Library buildings completed in 1980