Embedded Files
Shapiro Library. Photo source
Our Favorite “UGLi” Spot on Campus
Our Favorite “UGLi” Spot on Campus
by Fuyu Xu
Coffee, anxiety, research and libraries are an inseparable part of college life. As students of the University of Michigan, we are lucky to have an extensive, resourceful library network. In fact, our university library system ranked the “second largest research library by number of volumes” in the United States (Roebuck et al.). In the University’s library network, Shapiro Library is one of the most popular libraries among students.
The Undergraduate Library was built in 1958 (“Undergraduate Library gets facelift”). Because the library was claimed to be the “ugliest building on campus” before renovation, students adopted letters “U”, “G”, “L”, “I” from its simple name (Undergraduate Library), and called it “UgLi”. The nickname persists among students today. However, after a major remodeling and addition to the library that cost $11 million dollars in 1995, the Undergraduate Library also got a name change: the Harold T. and Vivian B. Shapiro Library “in honor of the former U-M president and his [alumna] wife” (“Undergraduate Library gets facelift”).
Harold T. Shapiro is a Montreal native who earned a bachelor’s degree from McGill University and a PhD from Princeton University, both in economics (“President Harold T. Shapiro's birthday”). During 1980 and 1987, his time of serving as the 10th president of the University of Michigan, the support for universities from the state declined and the University faced some challenges in budgeting. However, by “laying out plans for a ‘better paid, better supported, but smaller staff,” Harold Shapiro helped the University overcome the difficult times (“President Harold T. Shapiro's birthday”).
Many students incorrectly assume the library is only named after President Harold Shapiro. But Vivian B. Shapiro is a namesake in her own right. She is not only an alumni of the University of Michigan, but also was an assistant and associate professor at the University’s School of Social Work from 1980 to 1988. After Harold Shapiro accepted his presidency at Princeton University, Vivian Shapiro was granted professor emerita status at UM (“Vivian B. Shapiro”).
Shapiro Library now houses three libraries: Shapiro Undergraduate Library, Shapiro Science Library, and Askwith Media Library. A bridge was also built between Shapiro and Hatcher Library during an renovation, creating “a tri-library complex giving student and faculty ready access to one of the world’s finest aggregate collections in the sciences, social sciences and humanities” (“Undergraduate Library gets facelift”). There is even a superstition believed by students that if couples kiss each other under that bridge, they will be together forever. The renovation also added a bridge between the West Engineering Hall and Shapiro Library, yet it is now closed (“Undergraduate Library gets facelift”). In addition, notably, Bert’s Café, located in the Shapiro Undergraduate Library and Askwith Media Library were donated by Bertram Askwith, who was an alumni from class of 1931 at the University (Harrison).
Linguistically, the name Shapiro is itself interesting. It has many variations and interpretations. Some claim it to be the same as Shpira, which is the Jewish version of a German city called Speyer (Posner), while others believe that it is “derived from the Middle High German Word ‘Schaf’, meaning ‘sheep’” (“Shapiro History”). Regardless, it serves as one of the most popular Jewish last names with Ashkenazi origin, which was first “mentioned in the chronicles in the end of the 14th century in France” (“Origin of the name Shapiro”). By adopting the name “Shapiro” for a library, UM not only endorses the contributions of Harold and Vivian Shapiro, but also embraces the representation of the Jewish Community on campus.
Work Cited
Harrison, Colleen. “University Donor Bertram Askwith Passes Away.” The Michigan Daily, 20 Apr. 2021, www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/university-donor-bertram-askwith-passes-away/.
“Origin of the name Shapiro.” JEWAGE, 17 July 2013, www.jewage.org/wiki/he/Origin_of_the_name_Shapiro/.
Posner, Menachem. “What does the Jewish Last Name Shapiro Mean?” Chabad.org, 6 Jan. 2021, www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4963911/jewish/What-Does-the-Jewish-Last-Name-Shapiro-mean.htm/.
“President Harold T. Shapiro's Birthday.” The University Record, 19 June 2017, record.umich.edu/articles/president-harold-t-shapiros-birthday/.
Roebuck, Mian et al. “ARL Statistics 2020\.” Association of Research Libraries Digital Publications, 7 July 2022, publications.arl.org/ARL-Statistics-2020/.
“Shapiro History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms.” House of Names, www.houseofnames.com/shapiro-family-crest/.
“Shapiro Undergraduate Library.” Arts & Culture, 2022, arts.umich.edu/museums-cultural-attractions/shapiro-undergraduate-library/.
“Undergraduate Library Gets Facelift, New Name and Expanded Facilities and Services.” University of Michigan News, 12 May 1995, news.umich.edu/undergraduate-library-gets-facelift-new-name-and-expanded-facilities-and-services/.
“Vivian B. Shapiro.” University of Michigan School of Social Work, 2022, ssw.umich.edu/faculty/profiles/emeritus/shapiro-vivian-b.
Page updated
Report abuse