Otto F Linn PhD

The present library building is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Otto F. Linn, who served as dean and professor of the predecessor Pacific Bible College. The 11,000-square-foot building was dedicated on Nov. 24, 1954, when the library had about 30,000 volumes. There are nearly twice that many items in the library today.

Dr. Linn earned his Master's degree at Phillips University in Enid, Okla. and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He taught Bible at Anderson College (now University) in Anderson, Indiana before coming to Portland in 1942 as academic dean and professor of Bible and Greek. He retired in 1955 as dean emeritus.

During his life, he also had served as a pastor, missionary, and scholar of biblical literature. He authored several books on the New Testament and served on the advisory board for translators of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

Dr. Linn selected the words of Jesus from the Revised Standard Version of Matthew 20:26-27 to be engraved on the marble panel behind the circulation counter in the library:

Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave.