California Lutheran University’s Pearson Library celebrated its 40th anniversary on Friday, April 11, 2025.
“It makes me proud that I’m part of something that’s been ongoing for so long, because I’m, like, kind of passing along the legacy,” sophomore and library student-worker Yoyo Chen said.
Junior library student-worker Renee Fournier said being a part of the library’s team during a significant milestone is “really cool” and that she has learned a lot about the history of both the library and the campus through her role.
Director of Pearson Library Rachel Smiley said the current library building was constructed in 1985 after a generous donation from Clifford and Alma Pearson. Smiley said that the original library building was located where Alumni Hall and The Habit currently are.
Librarian of Pearson Library, Yvonne Wilber said that in 1985, students came together to carry books from the original library building to the current Pearson Library, which they called the “Yellow Book Road.”
Director of Library Services and Associate Provost from 1982-2001, Kenneth Pflueger, said in a speech that he remembers the universities canceling classes to encourage students to participate in the Yellow Book Road.
“I think the library is really the heart and soul of our campus, and really any campus, because it’s a space for students to come and not just study and get access to materials, but they can kind of get away from class work, get away from stressors and hopefully find a safe environment,” Smiley said.
Wilber said that as the academic heart of the university, the library serves everyone, including both students and faculty, regardless of discipline, subject, or major.
According to Smiley, over its 40 years on campus, Pearson Library has undergone major technological advancements to keep up with the needs of the student population.
“We’re right on the edge of massive changes in technology. Regarding the use of AI, I would like to see the library become leaders in how we can use AI creatively, competently, and ethically,” Wilber said.
At the 40th anniversary celebration, Cal Lutheran’s Information Technology Services debuted their new Artificial Intelligence tool called “Ask Gumby.”
“We need the collection to reflect where technology and culture is going today,” Smiley said. According to Smiley, the library and Cal Lutheran ITS have frequently worked very closely with each other to bring new technologies to the university.
Wilber said that the biggest challenge the library has faced in its 40 years has been access to physical resources for the infrastructure of the building as well as integrating the library into the curriculum of the university in a fair and equitable way.
Smiley said that each generation of students has new interests, needs, and desires, and that she believes, outside of the physical infrastructure needing updates, the biggest challenge for Pearson Library has been evolving with higher education.
“It’s a fun challenge to just kind of see, ‘What are the needs of this generation of students and how can we adapt to support them?” Smiley said.
Chen said that in the time he has worked in the library, the focus of resources has been allocated to the beautification of the spaces in the library, namely the outdoor atrium spaces. With the addition of updated furniture and greenery, Chen said the outdoor atriums have gotten “a huge glow up” and are the most underrated aspects of the library.
“One of the first things that really attracted me and I loved about this library are the green spaces, the atrium areas,” Smiley said. “I really love this kind of ecosystem of nature and the collection, and I kind of feel that across campus; this combination of a college campus with the natural environment around it and kind of coexisting together.”
Smiley said the anniversary conveniently aligns with the American Library Association’s designation of National Library Week.
“[It’s] really just a wonderful time to celebrate any kind of library in our lives, public libraries, school libraries, anything,” Smiley said.
Fournier said libraries are essential spaces for students to have access to and that she hopes libraries will continue to hold importance in the next 40 years.
“I really hope access to libraries in general doesn’t disappear. That would be incredibly unfortunate because access to books on this level, like, it’s really important to have access to those different books because they showed different perspectives,” Fournier said. “Books will always be books and access to them is, like, really important. Especially with, like, banned books,” Fournier said.
Wilber said she hopes students will continue to utilize the resources that the library has to offer.
“It’s always my desire that students feel that they belong in the library, that they’re comfortable in the library, and that the people here are ready and willing to help them, not only be successful in school, but receive them as people who are valuable and have a lot to offer,” Wilber said.
Smiley said that with this 40-year anniversary, Pearson Library is now thinking more than ever about what the future of the library looks like.
“[We are thinking about] what another 40 years look like and how we can really impact campus, but how can we strengthen our connection across campus of working students working with faculty,” Smiley said.
