The Monroe C. Gutman Library is the primary library for and one of four main buildings comprising the

Harvard Graduate School of Education The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is the education school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1920, it was the first school to grant the EdD degree and the first Harvard school ...

(HGSE). It is named for its principal benefactor, investment banker and

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...

1905 alumnus Monroe C. Gutman (1888 - 1974) who gifted the library $1.13 million. In addition to its academic and library functions, Gutman serves as a primary gathering place for HGSE students and a public exhibition space for artwork. Unlike other libraries on Harvard's campus, Gutman is not open 24 hours a day. The building's features include special collections, classrooms, study spaces, a conference center, computer services, bookstacks and eating commons.

History and recent activity

* 1902 - HGSE founded * 1972 - Gutman library opens as HGSE's first library building. Previously, materials supporting the study of education were hosted in various campus locations and a small working collection in Longfellow Hall * 1974 -

Boston Society of Architects One of the oldest and largest chapters of the AIA, the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) is a nonprofit membership organization committed to architecture, design and the built environment. History On June 20, 1867, approximately 50 architects co ...

awarded the Benjamin Thompson and Associates design the prestigious

Harleston Parker Medal The Harleston Parker Medal was established in 1921 by J. Harleston Parker to recognize “such architects as shall have, in the opinion of the Boston Society of Architects One of the oldest and largest chapters of the AIA, the Boston Society of ...

* 2012 - Recent renovation receives

LEED Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction ...

certification for its sustainability features, including a green wall and water bottle filling stations * 2017 - In an email circulated to the HGSE community on October 3, 2017, the school announced its plans to launch a 2-year renovation project to improve the Gutman Conference Center

Leadership

According to a 2016 job posting, the Librarian and Director of the Monroe C. Gutman Library holds a courtesy faculty appointment (without teaching obligations), participates on the Library Leadership Team led by the Vice President for the

Harvard Library Harvard Library is the umbrella organization for Harvard University's libraries and services. It is the oldest library system in the United States and both the largest academic library and largest private library in the world. Its collection ...

, and reports jointly to the Executive Dean and the Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching. Alex Hodges, formerly faculty at American University in Washington, D.C., has held this position since 2017.

References

{{authority control Harvard University buildings Libraries in Middlesex County, Massachusetts University and college academic libraries in the United States 1972 establishments in Massachusetts Library buildings completed in 1972