UIC's Richard J. Daley Library will host a ceremony to celebrate the acquisition of its two-millionth volume -- a milestone for the library, which opened in 1965.

The number of volumes held is a widely used measure of the overall size of research libraries; two million is the benchmark to classify a library as large.

"This is a major marker in the life of our library," said University Librarian Sharon Hogan. "It means we've come a long way since the 60s. Though it started out as a four-year undergraduate school, UIC has expanded to a Carnegie Research I institution, and the library has met these challenges and changes head on."

UIC's two-millionth volume is one of only 14 copies of "Freight," created by renowned architect Bertrand Goldberg, designer of Marina City. It is portfolio size, hand bound in green fiberglass and sealed with a piano hinge. Printed in 1951, it's an exuberant urban book befitting a young and ambitious urban library.

Tuesday, April 18
1:30 - 2:15 p.m.

University of Illinois at Chicago
Richard J. Daley Library, Special Collections
801 S. Morgan St.

"Freight" was selected as the two-millionth volume acquired by the library due to its strong connection with Chicago. Not only was it designed and printed by Bertrand Goldberg, a Chicago native, but also contains poetry and illustration by Chicago artists.

The book includes seven poems about trains written by John Frederick Nims. Nims, who was awarded the Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets in 1982, received his doctorate in comparative literature from the University of Chicago and taught poetry at both UIC and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Chicago native Richard Florsheim, well known for his ability to link images and text, illustrated "Freight."

Geoff Goldberg, son of Bertrand Goldberg and Bonnie Nims, wife of John Frederick Nims, are scheduled to speak. Mayor Richard M. Daley, his wife Maggie Daley and Secretary of State Jesse White are invited to attend.