History of the Walker Management Library
The primary mission of the Walker Management Library is to provide for the
research and information needs of the Owen Graduate School of Management faculty
and students. The Library also serves the business information needs of the
Vanderbilt community, and extends outreach services to alumni and the business
community. The Library seeks to provide innovative, high quality collaborative
services developed within a user-centered environment through its people, collections
and facilities.
The focus of the Walker Library collection is to provide optimum research support for students and faculty, both on site and through off-campus electronic access. Library holdings include approximately 50,000 volumes, 600 current periodical titles, excellent reference and reserve collections, and quality electronic business resources.
The Walker Management Library is named in honor of Anne Marie and Thomas B.
Walker, Jr., whose generous gifts have ensured that a nationally respected
business library supports the students and faculty of the Owen Graduate School
of Management.
Occupying one quarter of Management Hall, the Walker Library was designed to be an integral part of the Owen School community. Architect Gyo Obata - of St. Louis's Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum - designed the school to encircle large common areas, which include wide hallways and a landscaped courtyard. The library adjoins these common areas, wrapping around one end of the courtyard.
"GSM," as it was called from the inception of the school until the early 1980s, opened its doors at the former Cosmopolitan Funeral Home , renamed Alexander Hall , in the fall of 1970. There was also a library in Alexander Hall. That building underwent a major renovation in 1969-70 to accommodate the business school, so library facilities were likely constructed at that time as well. With the move to the current library in "OGSM" having occurred in May-June 1982, the library will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2007.
The facility has recently undergone extensive renovation and redecorating with new study rooms added to both the first and second floors. Several larger conference rooms offer private space for team projects and study groups.
Additional Information
