This is not the first time Loyola has attempted to purge physical reference materials from Cudahy Library: in 2003, a similar scheme in which 40 thousand books were slated for destruction was discovered by faculty at the last second. This amounted to 2% of the Cudahy Library’s total collection at the time. According to an article from The Phoenix, published October 8th, 2003, “Karla Petersen, the Dean of Libraries, recommended the disposal along with the library administration and with the approval of Provost Peter Facione.” Since this confrontation between university faculty and the Provost and Dean of Libraries, Loyola has built the Klarchek Information Commons, and the Library Board of Representatives was dissolved by the Dean of Libraries. Now, there is an association by the name of Friends of the Libraries rather than a formal representative board.

Relevant Sources:

Archived story from the Loyola Phoenix, Oct. 2003

Faculty Council Meeting Minutes, Oct. 2003

Photos from October, 2003; taken by a Loyola faculty member

Nearly 50 thousand books loosely tossed into boxes, with the intention to dispose of them.

A concerned Loyola faculty member took these photos as proof of what Loyola Administration was doing behind the backs of the students and professors.

Entire collections on racks slated for disposal alongside boxes full of additional volumes.

An employee of Hallett Movers hired by Loyola University Chicago, ready to load boxes of books onto a truck to be landfilled.