The University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Jim Dan Hill Library has been the recipient of a generous gift of approximately 2,500 books from Northland College’s Dexter Library, which closed in May 2025.

Deeply saddened to see a valued educational institution end its work, UW-Superior is committed to honoring the college’s legacy by ensuring that these books remain in circulation and are available to students, faculty, and community members, rather than sitting unused on private office shelves. Dexter Library also donated other books to additional area colleges and high schools.

When news of the library’s gift came with only a few weeks’ notice, librarians from both institutions quickly came together to identify which books would be most beneficial to UW-Superior’s collection. Guided by the library’s acquisition policies and the university’s curricula, the librarians carefully selected titles that align with existing courses, support new areas of growth, and enrich the liberal arts foundation that remains at the core of the university’s mission.

Once the selections were finalized, the transfer took place swiftly and efficiently, ensuring that the materials were safely relocated before Northland’s final days. The collection now resides in backroom shelves at Jim Dan Hill Library, where librarians and student employees have begun the long process of reviewing and integrating the books into the system.

This stage of the work will take approximately three years to complete. For context, 2,500 volumes represent roughly three typical years’ worth of print acquisitions at Jim Dan Hill Library. Each book must be inspected for physical condition, checked against holdings in the UW System, and entered into the catalog with appropriate metadata so that it can be discovered and borrowed by library users.

“Some books may not be suitable for inclusion due to wear or redundancy, but the majority are expected to find new life on the shelves and in our students’ hands,” said Stephanie Warden, associate library director.

The project represents not only a meaningful academic collaboration but also a substantial material gift. Even at a conservative estimate of $50 per volume, the donation equates to a $125,000 capital gain for the university. Beyond its monetary value, however, this collection carries intellectual and historical significance. It embodies the spirit of Northland College’s emphasis on sustainability of the natural environment; readers will find a specially-designed bookplate honoring the Dexter Library placed within each donated book. The Jim Dan Hill Library expresses its gratitude to the staff at Dexter Library.