Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Alcuin Library’s Dedication!

Celebrating the 60^th Anniversary of Alcuin Library’s Dedication!

Written by Garrett Miller

Today, May 7^th, 2026, marks the 60th anniversary of the dedication of Alcuin Library. The vision for this landmark was regularly on the horizon as the old library, once located in Wimmer Hall, quickly became too small and cramped as the campus grew in population and need. On May 18^th, 1953, the Faculty Library Committee of Saint John’s University drafted its first comprehensive plan for the new library. Interestingly, they did not start with writing down all the costs, desires, or deficits; instead, they intentionally started the first three pages of the document with “Benedictine backgrounds.” This focus of what would become Alcuin Library shows that the intention of the library was always rooted in the historical Benedictine tradition of reading and education that dates back to the sixth century. The requirement of a library in every monastic house was implied in the Rule of Saint Benedict itself, which stipulated that during Lent, each monk was to receive a book from the library to be read in its entirety (RB 48:15). Historically, these libraries, from the “book chests” of early medieval abbeys to the incomparable holdings of Monte Cassino and Melk Abbey, preserved both Holy Scripture and secular literature, steadily contributing to Western civilization.

Seeking to honor this legacy, the university engaged the renowned Hungarian-born architect Marcel Breuer to design a structure that would be as flexible and open as possible. Ground was broken on July 2^nd, 1964, following years of preparation. In the Dedication pamphlet, Abbot Baldwin Dworschak, O.S.B., emphasized the library’s spiritual and communal significance, stating: “This building, too, has been planned and designed with great care. To the monastic community, faculty, and students it is second only in importance to the church, near which it stands. It is destined to serve many purposes, many scholars, for many years, even as the church does. This building could be a lasting memorial, as it prepares many generations of learned priests and laymen.” Breuer’s design fulfilled this vision through striking architectural elements, such as the two massive concrete “trees” that support the roof and unify the upper floor, allowing books to safely reside and the love of learning to grow in this new space.

The building was officially dedicated on Saturday, May 7^th, 1966, in a historic ceremony attended by Vice President Hubert Humphrey and his wife, Muriel, who arrived on campus by helicopter, as well as many other attendees who, with the Vice President, would be given honorary degrees from Saint John’s. While the event was marked by Vietnam War picketers seeking to draw the attention of the Vice President and other attendees, the new $1,772,000 facility was celebrated for its modern amenities, including air conditioning and specialized audiovisual rooms. Over the years, the Library has evolved to meet shifting technological needs, culminating in a major renovation from 2015-2017. This project introduced the Dietrich Reinhart Learning Commons, the “Schu” coffee shop, a permanent home for the seven volumes of The Saint John’s Bible, and much more. In essence, sixty years later, Alcuin Library remains the heart of the campus, bridging ancient monastic tradition with the future of learning.

“Concrete Trees and Quiet Alcoves”

by Oblate Garrett S. “Faustino” Miller

Written in honor of the 60^th anniversary of the dedication of Alcuin Library (May 7, 1966).

Across the Abbey Plaza,

where Breuer’s Banner stands,

his sixth campus design: a library

where learning and tradition shake hands.

Named Alcuin for our beloved Abbot Deutsch

and the famed scholar of York,

it stands rooted, steeped in history—

a common refuge for study and work.

Abbot Baldwin set aside this sacred place,

“planned and designed with great care…

second only in importance to the Church…

a lasting memorial,” now ours to share.

Scholars and students from around the world,

and neighbors from just down the road,

encounter here a Benedictine way

revealed within quiet alcoves.

Here, the stacks are more than shelves

that hold ranks of scholarly tomes:

they are cathedrals of paper, parchment, and board,

with aisles where heart and mind may roam.

Leather-bound treasures, bearing Wisdom and Word,

dwell beneath branches of concrete trees;

each page is held fast with thoughtful care,

and each visitor is given room to breathe.

So enter in, and linger here

in this essential Benedictine space:

get a drink, wander, and do “library things”—

finding a book, just in case.