Chester Fritz Library events will celebrate its 50th anniversary

The Chester Fritz Library is 50 years old! It is hard to believe the University of North Dakota\u27s landmark library building was dedicated on Oct. 13, 1961 and has been the University\u27s center for intellectual inquiry and discovery for 50 years. It all began with the generous donation from Mr. Chester Fritz, a former UND student, who loved books and valued his education at UND. His gift provided the impetus for action by the North Dakota State Legislature to fund the construction of the Library. The result was a remarkable library facility capable of housing a large collection of books, journals and microforms. With this facility, the University was able to expand the acquisition of publications, which supported growing fields of academic inquiry and provide wonderful study spaces that have been used by countless students throughout the years. The 50th anniversary of the Chester Fritz Library is a fitting time to celebrate the role of libraries in teaching students and providing scholarly resources in support of undergraduate, graduate and faculty research. We have planned a number of events during October and invite the public to participate in the celebration: Library Book Sale, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Oct, 6, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 7-8, in the Chester Fritz Library Reading Room Presentation by former UND history instructor and onetime Grand Forks Herald staffer Dan Rylance on Reflections on the Life and Legacies of Chester Fritz, 7 p.m., Oct. 19, Library Reading Room. Rylance is also a former head of the Chester Fritz Library Special Collections department. All-campus reception celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Chester Fritz Library, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 21, in the Library Reading Room