The academic banner above depicts the library as a gatherer, receptacle, and distributor of information, ideas, and learning as represented by the abstract book shape, while the white, flowing shaft itself symbolizes the light and energy of learning in the Holy Spirit of God. The flame is the traditional symbol of learning and discovery through research.

History of the Hekman Library

From the 3,500 volume "library room" in 1915 to 1.7 million volumes in 2005 housed across four floors and the Internet, the Hekman Library has certainly seen many changes over the years. Many of the full text articles linked below, printed in various publications, provide readers with a glimpse of the issues that the Library faced, while other articles offer a reflection on the past, to the place that the Hekman Library occupied in the communities of Calvin and of Grand Rapids.

• The library's website is redesigned
• Evergreen, an integrated computer system designed to manage the operations within the library, replaces SIRSI

• Hekman librarians, Kathy DeMey, Sarah Kolk, Diane Vander Pol, host the first "Building a Bridge" conference intended to increase communication between high school librarians and college librarians.
• The library staff zones the library in an attempt to control noise. The large 4th floor study area is built.

• Students are employed at the Research Assistance Desk to help librarians answer research questions
• Chat (IM) is introduced as another way to contact librarians for research assistance 
• Library celebrates its 40th year as a United States Government Documents repository

• The library's website is redesigned using a content management system (CMS) 
• Librarians join forces with English professors to teach research fluency in English 101
• First Annual Disc Golf Tournament is held in the Hekman Library

• KnightCite, one of the most popular citation generators on the Web, is introduced by Calvin's Justin Searls (student programmer) and Greg Sennema 
• First issue of the Library Privy is published
• DIS Magazine Index online
  DIS Magazine. 36. December 2004. p.17
• The Making of Modern Michigan
  Sennema, Greg. Calvin Spark. 50. Fall 2004. p.9
• Tag Team: Jed Koops and Greg Sennema
  Library Journal. 129. March 15, 2004 (Movers & Shakers suppl) p.38
• Library Duo Among Top 'Movers and Shakers'
  Calvin Spark. 50. Summer 2004. p.8
• Developing a digital archive with limited resources
  Sennema, Greg. OCLC Systems & Services: International Digital Library Perspectives 20(2) 2004. pp.76–81
• Ministry Resource Center: access through a database-driven website
  Sennema, Greg. Christian Librarian. 47(2) 2004. pp.53-55
• Creating an Internal Content Management System
  Sennema, Greg. Computers in Libraries. 24(1) 2004 pp.8-13

• The First Hekman Library
  Harms, Richard H. Calvin Spark. 49. Spring 2003
• Managing the Reference Desk Online
  Sennema, Greg. Reference Services Review. 31(3) 2003 pp.257-263

• The Christian Reformed Church Periodical Index: A Local Solution to Indexing Periodicals
  Sennema, Greg. Journal of Religious and Theological Information, 5(3/4) 2002 pp.119-134

• New Web Based Catalog Unveiled by Library
  Bell, Christian, Calvin College Chimes, January 19, 2001

• A Match for Any Computer: The Irreplaceable Conrad Bult
  Rosendale, Lynn M.. Calvin Spark. 45. Summer 1999. pp.16-18
• Conrad Bult: Calvin's Man of the Millenium
  Flores, Eric, Calvin College Chimes, April 16, 1999, p.6
• 1545 Copy of Calvin's Catechism Found
  Calvin Seminary Focus. 16 Winter 1999, p.1
• Veteran librarian discovers rare, early Calvin catechism
  Fry, Robert. Banner. 134. February 15, 1999. pp.11-12
• New Search Face at Library Next Fall
  Chimes

• Glenn Remelts Named Library Director
  Calvin Spark. 44. Winter 1998. pp.8-9
• JSTOR Database Enhances Student Research Possibilities
  Winter, Suzanne, Calvin College Chimes, January 15, 1998
• Librarian Discovers Rare Book
  Minkner, Kathleen, Calvin College Chimes, December 4, 1998.
• AlphaSearch
  Internet Resources Letter, Issue 41, February 1998

• Hekman Library has New Entrance, Unique Design
  Calvin Spark. 43. Summer 1997 p.7

• Librarian's legacy lasts 30 years
  Calvin Spark vol. 42, Fall 1996 p.8

• Raising the Roof: a Look at the Library's Five Floors
  Rosendale, Lynn M. Calvin Spark. 40. Winter 1994. pp12-16
• Heritage Anchored: Edsko and Claire Hekman
  Buursma, Bruce. Calvin Spark. 40. Winter 1994. pp.17-20
• Beyond the Shelves: Calvin Alums Expand Their roles in Library Work
  Bakker, Kristin Tennant. Calvin Spark. 40. Winter 1994
• Calvin College dedicates Hekman library
  Grand Rapids Press, 10/22/1994, A3
• The Dedication of the Hekman Library
  Program of Dedication
• Library Unveils Touch new Security System
  Deavel, David. Calvin College Chimes, February 4, 1994, p.1
• Bult: Benevolent Bastion of Books
  Borgert, Michael, Calvin College Chimes, February 11, 1994, p.4

• Hekman Donation helps fund Calvin Library
  Grand Rapids Press, 10/29/2003, p.C1
• It's Hekman Again
  Buursma, Bruce. Calvin Spark. 39. Winter 1993. pp.21-23

• Calvin's library goes computer
  Calvin Spark. 37. March 1991. p.23

• Construction completed on the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies

• Calvin College and Seminary Library: the Past, Present, and Future
  Calvin Spark. 27. September 1981

• Looking a gift horse
  Lambers, Steve, Calvin Spark. 25. September 1979. p.10

• The Calvin Library
  Program of Dedication
• Philobiblon: of the love of books
  Calvin Spark vol. 17, September 1970 pp.4-6

• Addition to Knollcrest library under construction
  Calvin Spark. 15. December 1968. p.17
• Note issue to help finance library addition
  Calvin Spark. 15. September 1968. pp.12-13

• Want to find a sermon?
  De Koster, Lester Ronald, Banner vol. 100 January 1, 1965, p.11

• History in your hands
  De Koster, Lester Ronald, Banner. 97. June 8, 1962. p.18

• Calvin Library receives rare Bible
  Youngsma, Sydney T. Banner. 96. August 25, 1961. p.10

• The books which moved...libraries
  De Koster, Lester Ronald, Banner. 95. January 22, 1960. p.7
• In the planning of a library
  De Koster, Lester Ronald, Banner. 95. January 8, 1960. p.8

• Surprising and exciting possibilities at Calvin Library
  De Koster, Lester Ronald, Banner. 94. December 18, 1959. pp.6-7
• A magnificent goal for new Calvin Library
  Vander Ploeg, John, Banner. 94. December 18, 1959. p.5
• The periodical collection
  De Koster, Lester Ronald, Banner. 94. May 15, 1959. pp.19,27
• An expert visits the Calvin Library
  De Koster, Lester Ronald, Banner. 94. May 1, 1959. pp.15,19
• How good is our library?
  De Koster, Lester Ronald, Banner. 94. January 30, 1959. p.19

• Speaking volumes
  Youngsma, Sydney T., Banner. 90. February 4, 1955. pp.139,143

• The Calvin Library
  Zylstra, Henry, Banner. 82. August 15, 1947. p.952

• Dedication of Hekman Memorial Library
  Beets, Henry, Banner. 63. March 16, 1928. pp.200-201
• Calvinalia: Dedication of the Hekman Library
  Wyngaarden, Martin Jacob, Banner. 63. March 9, 1928. p.193