Alden_Endowment booklet 2012

University Libraries

t o e n h a n c e e xc e l l e n c e in teaching , learning and research

“The library is far more than a collection of books or a building. It is the intellectual heart of the University.”

— Vernon R. Alden OHIO’s president from 1962-1969

Ohio University Libraries

The more than 200-year history of Ohio University Libraries is interwoven with the history of the University and the State of Ohio. In 1811, seven years after the establishment of Ohio University, the Board of Trustees purchased, for $316, its first official set of books.

By 1814, the first rules governing the “Library of Ohio University” were codified, and by 1830 the collection had reached 3,000 books.

Since then, the Libraries has grown to incorporate three million volumes, comprehensive electronic resources, and world-renowned special collections. Ranked among the top 100 research libraries in North America, Ohio University Libraries is a member of the prestigious Association of Research Libraries.

Image: Thomas Schiff ’70

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enhancing excellence in teaching , learning and research

Endowments at Ohio University Libraries are an investment in OHIO’s future. A university’s scholarly success depends on its most basic element, its library. A great library enriches every aspect that supports academic excellence, innovative programs and effective teaching, learning and research.

As students and faculty reach new levels of achievement, they find an increased need of materials to support their research and instruction. Whether it is rare or newly published books, fine arts or manuscript collections, or electronic journals or databases, Ohio University students and faculty depend upon extensive library resources.

A gift to the Libraries makes a difference in the amount of scholarly resources and the quality of the education that is available. Those gifts reinforce existing endowments, support the purchase of new collections, maintain current materials and provide electronic resources that benefit present and future generations of the Ohio University community.

When donors choose to support our endowments, it does make a difference because behind every great university is a great library.

Image (Cover): Graduate Assistant Bryan Thomas

Image (Above): Graduate Assistant Kristin Heinichen

No. 1

vernon r . & marion alden

L ibrary E ndowment

“The library is far more than a collection of books or a building,” said Dr. Vernon R. Alden. “It is the intellectual heart of the university, a vital element of university life with an essential role in teaching, learning and research.” Dr. Vernon R. Alden, the fifteenth president of Ohio University, made the construction of a new library a priority during his tenure. At the end of his term, in 1969, the Vernon R. Alden Library opened its doors. This endowment, made in honor of Dr. Alden, is used at the discretion of the Dean of University Libraries to provide high quality resources and services, which are critical for the effective teaching and learning mission of the University community and beyond.

Image: Yousuf Karsh ’65

No. 2

dr . you - bao shao

Overseas Chinese Documentation & Research Center

Because of his interest in the influence of overseas Chinese, Dr. Shao established the Shao Center and its endowment to provide earnings to collect publications, preserve historic materials and to create and publish new scholarly writings related to persons of Chinese descent who reside outside of China and the influence that they have on other cultures worldwide.

Since its establishment, the Shao Center has actively promoted world-wide institutional cooperation. It is also an international resource for the study of the Chinese diaspora through its three international websites.

Funds from the endowment aid the center to build upon its databases, directories, exhibitions and planning of international conferences.

Image: Graduate Student Sherry Dibari

No. 3

Hwa-Wei Lee Center for international collections endowment

The spirit of this endowment is to strengthen and support the center’s international research resources. Through long-term funding, the endowment provides library support for programs, classes with an international content and individual research. Ohio University Libraries serves as the official depository of publications of Botswana and Malaysia, which provides international resources to students, faculty and researchers alike. “The strong sense of purpose and the unity among the administrators, faculty members, students, library staff and community friends [makes] the library the true center of learning at the University,� said Emeritus Dean Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee. Image: Graduate Assistant Kristin Heinichen

No. 4

L ibrary P reservation E ndowment

“The most important thing is to balance access and protection. Such unique documents should be celebrated and shared as part of OHIO and our role in history.”

— Miriam Nelson Head of Preservation, University Libraries

This endowment was established to provide a permanent source of supplementary funding to enhance the Libraries’ preservation of collections—and to guarantee the availability of materials for future generations of students and scholars.

The Libraries’ preservation department, formed in 1988, first began as just a “book repair” center. Almost twentyfive years later, preservation ensures the continual access to the Libraries’ rare and fragile collections through careful preservation, conservation, treatment and protection.

Image: Graduate Student Sherry Dibari

No. 5

M arion A lden endowment for southeast asian library collection

Funds from the Marion Alden Endowment are crucial to maintaining the reputation of the Southeast Asian Collection as one of the top research collections in the nation and the only one of its kind in Ohio. The collection serves students, faculty and researchers locally, nationally and around the globe.

A gift from Vern Alden to his wife Marion to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary, this endowment was created to honor Marion’s fondness for the University and her interest in Southeast Asia. These funds remain essential in the purchase of important materials related to Asia and Southeast Asia, which include hard-to-find books, periodicals and electronic media from worlds away.

Image: Graduate Student Sherry Dibari

No. 6

O hio U niversity contemporary history institute library endowment

Established to support the Contemporary History Institute (CHI) at OHIO, the endowment acquires materials in the field of contemporary history. This long-term endowment supports the essential research of CHI faculty who have earned national and international reputations for excellence in historically-grounded analysis of contemporary world affairs.

Image: Courtesy of Ohio University Libraries’ Mahn Center

No. 7

Craig Christopher Snuggs memorial fund for chemistry acquisitions

The purpose of this account is to fund the purchase of library materials relating to cutting-edge research in the field of chemistry. Bob Snuggs ’53, a former chemistry major, established the fund in memory of his late son. His intent was to provide support to the continuing study of chemistry through state-of-the-art reference materials. “On my recent visit to Athens, I was blown away by the current technology at the Library and the actual use of the new material by the chemistry department,” said Snuggs.

“I wanted to make a contribution with broader impact than I could with a scholarship fund for the chemistry department.”

— Bob Snuggs

Illustration: Lavoisier, Memoires de L’Academie Royale des Sciences

No. 8

sydney & sonya buck

Special C ollections Fund Funds from this endowment contribute to the growth of rare book collections housed in the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections.

The Mahn Center is the principle repository for rare materials that support the education, research and creative mission of Ohio University. In recent years, purchases such as Virgil’s “Bucolica et Georgica,” which was printed in the 18th century, have added beauty and uniqueness to those collections as well as valuable information for students. Special Collections Librarian Judy Connick uses the rare book collections while teaching classes to various disciplines every year.

“We were looking for something that would be universal—that would help all students. We found that in the Libraries.”

Image: Graduate Assistant Bryan Thomas

— Sydney Buck

This endowment was established to honor Charles and Ruth Overby’s passion for peace and social justice. The funds support library collections and programs that enhance the awareness and the study of global issues related to the prevention of war and violence including economic, education, health care and environmental issues. As a veteran of two wars and an engineer, Dr. Charles Overby developed a strong commitment to peace and social justice, and through his service as a Baker Peace committee member, Dr. Overby continues to be an important force in these areas.

No. 9

Image: Graduate Student Sherry Dibari

charles & ruth overby

L ibrary E ndowment

No. 10

1804 special library endowment fund

Perhaps the most versatile endowment, the 1804 Special Library Fund was developed in 1979 to purchase major collections with significant research value in an effort to aid academic programs.

Since its beginnings, the earnings in this endowment have enabled University Libraries to move quickly in the purchasing of special materials such as the online database, “Early American Newspapers.” This online collection presents 18th-20th century newspapers from all 50 present states including the “North Star,” a famous anti-slavery newspaper founded by Frederick Douglass.

Image: Graduate Student Sherry Dibari

No. 11

L ynn S hostack endowment for the physically challenged

The purpose of the Shostack endowment is to help remove technical or physical boundaries for students, faculty and staff with physical or learning disabilities through the use of adaptive technologies. Alden Library’s Adaptive Technology Room, created through the Shostack endowment, allows twenty-four hour access to tools that can translate text to braille, create text through voice recognition and much more.

The Shostack endowment provides individuals an equal access to academic resources and to ensure success in their studies, professional work or research.

Image: Graduate Assistant Bryan Thomas

No. 12

D onald & M arion S pencer endowment for african american studies collection

Recognized as civic leaders in Cincinnati, Ohio, Marion and the late Donald Spencer spent their life together as promoters of civil rights.

This endowment continues their legacy by enriching the educational experiences of students and researchers through the acquisition of materials documenting African American history, politics, arts, language, literature, music and culture. The “Oxford African American Studies Center” online database, and microfilm sets such as “The Black Power Movement (Part 2): The Papers of Robert F. Williams” are just a few of the many unique and invaluable items available, thanks to the Donald & Marion Spencer Endowment.

Image: Michael Keating

No. 13

Arts & Humanities junior faculty endowment ( ahjfe )

The AHJFE serves as an enticing recruitment tool to attract the best and brightest talent available to join the arts and humanities as tenure-track faculty. This endowment allows faculty like Dr. Robin Muhammad, assistant professor in African American Studies, to purchase specialized materials needed to support research.

Muhammad recommended the purchase of the expansive microfilm collection of the “Negro Labor Committee (NLC) Record Group” through funding from the endowment. This purchase expanded the breadth and depth of the Libraries’ collections. Muhammad continues to utilize these and other collections in her classes. “I can refer my students to these collections,” she said, “[and show them] how to research and how to utilize the resources available.”

Image: Graduate Assistant Alysia Burton

No. 14

other

S ydney & S onya B uck Traditional Shakespearean Endowment Earnings from this endowment are used to purchase materials that focus on the period in which Shakespeare lived, 16th and 17th century England, and give researchers and classes a broader understanding of the historical context behind what is considered the greatest group of works in the history of English literature.

T he R aymond G usteson L ibrary E ndowment Professor Raymond Gusteson, who taught political science at Ohio University from 1947-1991, saw the nation change before his very eyes. This insight gave Gusteson a unique perspective on American politics and law. The endowment was established to purchase materials and to sustain research by the department of political science in order to keep the search for political and legal understanding of our country alive.

E dward and C laudette S tevens L ibrary E ndowment This endowment supports the acquisition of materials related to the history of primary and secondary education in the United States, in order to broaden student, faculty and researchers’ knowledge of the education system leading up to today.

J oseph W ayland and H elen B osart M organ L ibrary E ndowment This endowment is used to expand the Morgan Collection of the History of Chemistry, housed in Alden Library’s Mahn Center, through the discretion of the Dean of the Libraries and the support of the department of chemistry.

F riends of the L ibraries S cholarship F und In 1999, the Friends established a scholarship fund designated to provide aid for the Libraries student employees in recognition of the important role that student assistants have in the Libraries operations. As one of the largest student employers on campus, the Libraries simply wouldn’t be the same without its over 200 student workers. The recipients and all student employees play an integral role in helping the Libraries maintain its reputation of quality service.

University Libraries 512 Alden Library Ohio University Athens, OH 45701-2979 library.ohiou.edu Doug Partusch

740.593.2683 partusch@ohio.edu

To learn about our endowments visit: library.ohiou.edu/endowments

THE PROMISE LIVES: The Campaign to Support Ohio University Libraries Behind every great university is a great library. It’s indispensable in higher education, because access to quality information fuels the pioneering research emanating from faculty and pursued by graduate and undergraduate students. At Ohio University that begins at OHIO’s libraries.

University Libraries touches all OHIO students, so when donors support the Libraries, they do make a difference. Give online today at library.ohiou.edu/give.