But for Ohio State Welcome to the Campaign Issue of Folio!
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2013 olio Thompson Library: Celebrating 100Years Collections • Services • People • Places spring f But for Ohio State Welcome to the campaign issue of Folio! In 2009, thanks to the generosity of Ohio State supporters, the William Oxley Thompson Library was redesigned, reimagined, rebuilt, and reborn. As you know, the new Thompson opened to immediate and overwhelming success. Today it is both the literal and the intellectual center of campus—a collection of people, knowledge, technology, resources, and communication ready to lead the way into the coming decades of a challenging 21st century. With so much accomplished, it might be easy to believe your support for the University Libraries was no longer needed—that we are “done”—but this is far from the case. Great libraries like the Thompson Library are never finished. It’s our role to be continually looking ahead to new ways of cultivating knowledge and to each new student who comes through our doors (real or virtual). As long as people are studying, learning, and shaping the future using the resources we provide, we are committed to growing and changing. Thus, the importance of your support never fades. In addition to Thompson, there are 16 libraries here at Ohio State, each of which meets the needs of specific populations. Each facility has vital goals and priorities deserving your essential support. Through the But for Ohio State campaign and the continuing generosity and vision of our alumni and friends, Ohio State’s family of University Libraries will be able to anticipate and meet those needs. I hope you will join us as we continue this journey of learning and discovery, and to support us through a gift to the But for Ohio State campaign. Carol Pitts Diedrichs Director of Libraries A BIG CELEBRATION LAUNCHED THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN Honorary Library Campaign Chairs, Pat & Thom Robinson THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY The Library Campaign Message from the Chairman What does it take to become one of the top five public research libraries in the country? Or to be named one of just four Landmark Libraries of the future? Or to have one of the two best car- toon libraries in the world? Or to service the needs of nearly four million inquiring faculty, staff, and students on six campuses in 16 separate facilities each year? Or to be able, at a finger’s touch, to connect with all of the planet’s recorded knowledge? Or to be the one and only cam- pus experience common to every single staff member, faculty member, and student? What it takes is an enormous, thoughtful human effort to begin with. It takes a place, a spe- cific place, where the search for knowledge often begins. Beyond place, it takes connectivity. It takes collections. It takes sophisticated equipment, efficient and well trained staffing, brilliant scholars and scholarship, and intelligent management of a diverse enterprise. And it takes about $84,000 each day every day to be The Ohio State University Libraries system. President E. Gordon Gee has described physical and intellectual infrastructure as one of the four pillars of a great university, with faulty, students, and advancement being the others. Infrastruc- Campaign Chairman Tally Krumm ture - with the Library system being the key piece - requires resources, and those resources available to Ohio State are becoming scarcer as the State of Ohio moves away from support of public higher education and as tuition pressures limit revenues. That’s really what the But For Ohio State capital campaign is all about. It is a quest for monies to do what needs to be done to improve, modernize, to provide the kind of academic environ- ment that all of us want for the next generation of learners and seekers. The Libraries’ part in the overall campaign is very big for a library ($25 million) but small in the larger university context ($2.5 billion). Both efforts seek to offset the decline in public support with endowment dollars. There is no other way to put it. We have asked before and your generosity helped recast the William Oxley Thompson Library into an architectural masterpiece and an intellectual and social crossroads. Now we ask for your help again to sustain and enhance this library system of ours in new, exciting, and necessary 2 ways. This issue of Folio highlights some of them. There are others. But why is contributing to this campaign so important? Because, either actually or virtually, the Libraries system at The Ohio State University is the point of entry into the yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows of every human endeavor, and it is there for every one of us to use when we need it, as often as we need it, for reasons unique to each of us. Our job as Library “people” is to keep that portal open and expanding. There is no contribution too small or too large. Join Friends of the Libraries. Support student initiatives. Donate to a Rare Books collection. Help with the ongoing task of digitization. Name a building. The important thing is that we engage in any way we can to help our Libraries. For whatever you do in whatever form you do it, thank you. From Left: Libraries Executive Campaign Committee members Pat and Thom Robinson, Floradelle Pfahl, J.C. Hanks, Liz Fox, Paul Watkins, Deborah Acock, Chairman Tally Krumm. At right: Bob Oakley Introducing a new name The 18th Avenue Library The familiar Ohio State Science and Engineering Library or “SEL” has a new name that better reflects its diversity of holdings and services. The library sits at the intersection of the University’s science and arts districts. After taking naming suggestions from students, faculty and staff the 18th Avenue Library was selected. The building has a notable architectural history as it was designed by the renowned twentieth century architect Philip Johnson in 1992. The “library that never sleeps” is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is enormously popular with students. Its heavy use has called for major upgrades of the facility as well as new technology. The Music and Dance Library, once housed in Sullivant Hall, has a new home on the second floor. New carpeting and modern furniture – test driven by our students – was installed in December. Acock Associates Architects are currently completing plans for a first floor renovation, which will include a new entrance on 18th Avenue, a casual study lounge with a fireplace, study rooms, conference rooms, and improved traffic flow for all areas. Naming rights and opportunities for these spaces will be offered. “We’re not sure what will be coming down 3 the road in terms of how the library will evolve, so we didn’t want a name that tried to represent all the subjects and so we chose a name that acknowledged that the building will continue to evolve and change,” said Director of Libraries Carol Pitts Diedrichs. She added that the new name could “change again if someday there might be a donor after whom the library would be named.” Naming opportunities for the 18th Avenue Library These renderings of renovation possibilities for the 18th Avenue Library depict potential naming opportunities, including a new 18th Avenue entrance, a Chihuly display area, lounge with fireplace, and (shown on floor plan) conference rooms, collaborative study rooms and a café. Events Sullivant Opening set for November The Sullivant Hall renovation is scheduled to be completed in 2013, at which time Sullivant Hall will house the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (BICLM) as well as The Ohio State University Department of Dance and the Department of Art Education. The BICLM will have a grand opening November 14-17 with many special events in the works. For those who would like a sneak preview of the building, Hard Hat Tours of Sullivant Hall will be offered in May. Guests must wear sturdy footwear and no tennis shoes. Contact Kelly Zwink at [email protected] or 614-292-8174 for reservations. Rare Books hosts Tasteful Evening The annual Tasteful Evening for Rare Books and Manuscripts sponsored by J.C.Hanks and Paul Tingley at the Columbus 4 Club will be held on May 16 from 6-8 pm. Eric Johnson will discuss the restoration of the Hornby Bible which is currently underway at the Rare Books library, and Gary Vara will guide guests through a wine tasting from the oldest vineyards in France. Cost is $50 per person and the public is invited to attend. Call 614-292-8174 for more information. Tribute Planned May 28 for Joseph J. Branin (1948 – 2012) The Libraries will host a gathering of colleagues, family and friends of Joseph J. Branin on May 28 in the Thompson Library from 4-6 pm. Joe’s wife Anita and their daughters will attend. Tribute remarks will begin at 5 pm. All are welcome. Joe was director of Libraries from 2000 until 2009 and led the renovation of the Thompson Library. Before his illness, the Branins had been living in Saudi Arabia where Joe was director of the library at KAUST, a new Saudi university of science and technology. The family has asked that memorial gifts go to Fund #308498 for the Rare Books & Manuscripts Library. Join the Friends of the Libraries FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARIES BOARD OF DIRECTORS Front row: Andrew Brate, Betty Garrett, Anne Fields, Connie Jump, Paul Watkins Back row: Bill Evans, David Bloomfield, Bill Rich (president), Becki Crowell, Trenton Manning Have you considered joining OSU’s Friends of the Libraries? Pictured at left: Brenda Dean, Friends is open to all patrons, alumni, faculty, staff and other Sally Blue and Lisa Carter, supporters who are dedicated to promoting the University Director of the Board.