Everything You Always Wanted To Know About The Sterling Morton Library But Were Afraid To Ask
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By Rita M. Hassert
Technical Service Librarian
The Morton Arboretum
Libraries can be surprising places!
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
J.R.R. Tolkien
The ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science defines a library as "A collection of material organized to provide physical, bibliographical, and intellectual access to a target group with a staff that is trained to provide services and programs related to the information needs of the target group." The Sterling Morton Library is a special library focusing on the literature of botany and horticulture, especially as it relates to trees and shrubs that can be grown in northern Illinois. Supporting the programs of Collections, Education and Research at the The Morton Arboretum, the Library is open to all and extends borrowing privileges to Arboretum staff, members and volunteers. Actively participating in that mysterious acronym ILL (interlibrary loan), the Library lends and borrows resources with other libraries.
"I pray that no child of mine would ever descend into such a place as a library. They are indeed most dangerous places and unfortunate is she or he who is lured into such a hellhole of enjoyment, stimulus, facts, passion, and fun."
Willy Russell
The mission of the Arboretum guides us as we collect and organize resources to assist users. The Library has resources on the flora and vegetation of every state and many countries, detailed monographs on plant families and genera, and books on the practice of gardening in temperate zones. In addition, there are collections on natural history, ecology, conservation, soils, plant exploration, botanical illustration, landscape architecture, ornithology, biography, and on the history of botany, and the natural sciences in general. The circulating and reference collections of over 23,000 volumes are enhanced by an extensive collections of journals, a 5,000 volume Rare book collection, a Print collection of more than 8,500 works, and Archives containing documents from May T. Watts; Jens Jensen, landscape designer; Marshall Johnson, Jensen's successor; and Ossian Cole Simonds, first landscape architect for the Arboretum. Whew! Then there are the more unusual and surprising items found in the Library like our butterfly collection (collected and preserved by Sherman Foote Denton in the early part of the last century), a nursery catalog from William Prince Nursery dated 1771 and children's books about plants and nature.
"Access to knowledge is the superb, the supreme act of truly great civilizations. Of all the institutions that purport to do this, free libraries stand virtually alone in accomplishing this mission."
Toni Morrison
The foundation of the Arboretum's Library came from books in the collection of the Morton family and numerous duplicates received from the Arnold Arboretum Library. As he was creating his Midwestern arboretum, Joy Morton consulted with Charles Sprague Sargent, Director of the Arnold Arboretum. With an eye to designing the Arboretum along the classical arrangement of living plant collections, the herbarium and the library, Sargent strongly encouraged Morton to establish a library. Instrumental in helping to develop the early Library, Sargent even recommended and purchased some works for this young collection. While the collection began to grow from the founding of the Arboretum, it was formally gathered and organized in 1963 with the construction of the Harry Weese designed Library building and named in honor of Joy's son, Sterling Morton. Other members of the Morton family played pivotal roles in the Arboretum's and specifically the Library's development and identity. The Library rare book and print collections benefited directly from the interest of Suzette Morton Davidson, daughter of Sterling and granddaughter of Joy Morton. Her keen interest in these collections allowed for their exceptional growth and development.
"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library."
Jorge Luis Borges
Visitors quickly discover immediately adjacent to the Library is the May T. Watts Reading Garden, named in honor of the gifted author, teacher, and naturalist. A cool fountain, a leafy pergola, and comfortable seating all offer the visitor a green reading oasis. While the Library is open Tuesday through Friday from 9-5 and Saturday from 10-4, the Library's catalog can be viewed any time/any place at. http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/ As helpful as the Library's online catalog is, a virtual visit to the Library is a pale substitute for a real visit! You are welcome and encouraged to visit the Sterling Morton Library and use the many resources available.