Blaisdell Medical Library 20th Anniversary
The history of the F. William Blaisdell, M.D. Medical Library (often called Blaisdell Medical Library or BML) tells the story of an institution that went from facing space constraints to becoming a state-of-the-art hub of research and learning.
Growing from Day One
Established in 1976 within the Professional Building, the UC Davis Medical Center Library faced immediate space constraints. Occupying 4,115 square feet, the facility accommodated roughly 20,000 volumes, which was inadequate for the UC Davis Medical Center (UCDMC) and its clinical programs. The medical center’s rapid program expansion exacerbated these space issues, driving a 117% increase in library usage between 1980 and 1990.
(UC Davis Health Public Affairs and Marketing Records, AR-224, UC Davis Library Archives and Special Collections)
During the 1980s, Medical Center Librarian Terri Malmgren presented the library’s space needs to both the UCDMC Space Allocation Committee and the Coordinator of Medical Sciences Planning. The proposed goals for a bigger building included housing a collection suited for an academic health center, meeting growing educational demands, expanding user seating, and providing adequate space for staff.
(Library Administration Records, AR-077, UC Davis Library Archives and Special Collections)
(UC Davis Health Public Affairs and Marketing Records, AR-224, UC Davis Library Archives and Special Collections)
Exhibit: Blaisdell Medical Library 20th Anniversary
Exhibit Location
The exhibit is on display both at Blaisdell Medical Library in Sacramento and at Shields Library in Davis (see map below).
