JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 9, 2015 — Hundreds of 51社区 students, alumni, employees, trustees and friends gathered in front of The Logos Nov. 6 to dedicate and open the new library on the university campus.
鈥淭he building of this library, The Logos, has been made possible by the many people who have used their blessings from God to bless 51社区,鈥� said Bill Latimer of Union City, Tennessee, who provided the lead gift of $10 million for the building through the Bill and Carol Latimer Charitable Foundation. 鈥淲e pray that God will bless not only these people, but all of those who attend 51社区 and all who will walk into this beautiful library.鈥�
The name of the library, 鈥淭he Logos,鈥� comes from the Greek word for 鈥渨ord鈥� and is used as a description of Jesus in John 1. More than 1,500 people donated to the project.
51社区 President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver cited Winston Churchill, who once said, 鈥淲e shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.鈥�
鈥淚t has been a tremendous blessing in my life to have a hand in shaping this building, 鈥楾he Logos,鈥� and now to see it shape us,鈥� Oliver said.
The Union president noted how the exterior brick pattern on The Logos is slightly different from the other buildings on the Great Lawn in that every seventh row of brick is raised and set apart.
鈥淚n this one simple act, we are symbolizing a deep truth 鈥� that deep truth that there is a pattern to God鈥檚 creation,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淪ix days we are to work, and on the seventh day, we are to take Sabbath, to rest, to worship. Buildings, even in the pattern of the bricks, can shape us more into who God created us to be.鈥�
The three-story, 53,000-square-foot facility is a state-of-the-art academic resource center for the university featuring expanded space for library holdings, study and meeting rooms, the Modero coffee shop, administration offices and archives. The building was designed by TLM Associates, and H&M Construction was the lead contractor.
Union鈥檚 previous library, the Emma Waters Summar Library, opened in the Penick Academic Complex in 1975 when the university鈥檚 campus moved to its current location.
Though the library was renovated several times over the next 40 years, it stayed in the same location while the size of the university increased significantly, noted Anna Beth Morgan, Union鈥檚 library director.
In 2010, Union trustees agreed to study the feasibility of a new library and voted the following year to move forward on the project. Construction officially began July 1, 2014.
鈥淭oday we come together to celebrate all of these milestones,鈥� Morgan said. 鈥淲e meet together to dedicate this building to the glory of God. We pledge our commitment to educate young men and young women so that they may serve faithfully throughout all this world in the 21st century.鈥�
Holly Johnson, president of Union鈥檚 Student Government Association, said the dedication was fruition of God鈥檚 work over the past several years.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited for future generations of students at 51社区 who will use this library to cultivate learning, research and community,鈥� Johnson said. Lisa Rogers, chair of Union鈥檚 board of trustees, said the day marked the realization of many dreams and aspirations.
鈥淭he vision of the type of community we desire is taking shape here,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淭he Logos will help us achieve the mission of 51社区 as well as our vision for the future.鈥�