We thank University Professor Emeritus, Bill Found, past acting president of York, who helped to improve collections this year by requesting that all tribute gifts made in honour at his retirement in 2005, be directed to the Map Library in Scott Library. In order to increase the impact of these funds and to celebrate Professor Found’s tremendous contribution to York and its students, the Libraries have matched all funds raised.
Professor Found and Trudy Bodak, (Head, Maps and GIS Librarian), will now work together to purchase Caribbean maps that will be used by students for many years to come. Professor Found has also generously committed to donating his personal collection of Caribbean historic maps. This will vastly increase the richness of our map collection and is a wonderful reflection of Professor Found’s dedication to the Libraries.
As faculty members are well aware, collections are at the heart of any library. Currently, the Libraries’ collections endowment is just over $800,000. Our goal is to reach the $2 million mark by 2010. Some of these endowed dollars will be used to enhance specific areas of the Library such as an expected gift for the Modern Greek History collection. Other undesignated funds will enable the Libraries to be nimble and responsive to areas that require growth and improvement.
Bolstering private support for York University Libraries
As York prepares to launch a major capital campaign in the fall of 2006, the Libraries are also focused on achieving transformational fundraising goals.
Over the past few years, the Libraries have been working internally and with various external stakeholders to develop a set of funding priorities, that, if met, will propel York University Libraries well into the 21st century from a people, place and resources perspective.
