HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

Articulating, Then Answering, Library's Needs

The Harvard University Library's importance, depth, and stature are quite familiar to members of the University community. The majority of us know that its collections are extensive -- more than 13 million volumes are housed in more than 90 libraries. The largest academic library in the world, it is also the oldest academic library in the United States.

Nearly all of us can cite the central role books play in Harvard's history, from John Harvard's bequest of 400 books in 1638 to the devastating fire in Harvard Hall that destroyed 4,600 of Harvard's 5,000 volumes in 1764, and the dedication of the College's main library building in 1915 in memory of young Harry Elkins Widener '07, a victim of the Titanic disaster.

Few, however, understand fully the challenges that the Harvard library system now faces. There are obvious needs, such as funds to buy new books, journals, and other materials being published at record rates; to endow positions for librarians and conservationists; and to support the growing range of online resources needed by the faculty and students.

Without major investments over the next several years, portions of the collections are at risk of deterioration, and these collections are essential to the University's research and teaching.

Other requirements may be less apparent but are no less urgent: temperature and humidity control in Widener to halt the deterioration of millions of books; fire protection and security improvements in Widener; and renovations to the aging but very popular Lamont building.

"The buildings and facilities are desperately in need of upgrading and updating, especially Widener," said Sidney Verba, Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor and director of the Harvard University Library. "And the collections are fragile. It will take a tremendous investment to keep them from decaying to the point [at which] they cannot be used."

Nancy Cline, the Roy E. Larsen Librarian of Harvard College, confirms that point, "Our books are deteriorating rapidly because the temperature and humidity in the stacks constantly fluctuate."

Cline also voiced the importance of addressing the growing needs for digital information and for improving the technology throughout the library. "Online resources will enable people who need information to access information whenever they are motivated to do so, not just when the library is open," she noted. "In some cases, people will be able to find most of what they need online, while others will continue to depend on the traditional collections. Research librarians need to support both."

"The Harvard library is the basis for all research in the humanities and most of the social sciences as well as being a vital tool for natural scientists," concluded Verba. "In an era of books and journals -- the major media for the scholarly community -- the Harvard library has traditionally been among the world's greatest. One of the reasons the library needs support now is so that it can perform the same role in the digital era."

Library fundraising gains momentum

Fortunately, the library has just completed its best fundraising period ever. Campaign gifts from alumni and friends total $28 million. In The University Campaign, Harvard set a $78 million goal for libraries.

Victor K. Atkins Jr.'67, MBA '72, Juliana W. Thompson and William F. Thompson '50, MBA '54, John K. Castle, MBA '65, and The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, under the leadership of William Lee Frost '47, MPA '58, have stepped forward with significant gifts totaling $9.5 million and have provided much-needed momentum for this crucial area of the campaign.

"We are extraordinarily grateful to Victor, Julie and Bill, and John for their generosity," said President Neil L. Rudenstine, who also expressed his thanks to The Littauer Foundation. "I especially appreciate their leadership as we intensify our efforts to meet the needs of the world's greatest university library."

Explaining the impetus for his $3 million gift, Victor Atkins said, "I have always loved books and the library seemed to me a campaign priority that greatly needed a jumpstart."

In recognition of his generosity, Harvard has offered Victor Atkins the opportunity to name Lamont Library's new reference area. "In this central welcoming space, reference librarians will help students access the library's holdings by teaching them how to make effective use of both traditional reference materials and the expanding array of online resources," said Verba.

"Contrary to some people's view that technology will make libraries obsolete is the consideration that, by enabling people to discover more easily what is in the collection, technology encourages the increased use of the collection," noted Victor Atkins. "When you can use your laptop to log on to the online information system and quickly find out what books on a certain subject are available, instead of forever thumbing through the card catalogs, you will more likely find and use the books.

"As many people have observed, no one ever graduated from the library," he concluded, "but we are all responsible for maintaining this unique and precious resource."

As a national campaign chair, Bill Thompson felt a special responsibility for boosting the library campaign. "People who love Harvard cannot neglect its library," he said.

"This spring, [Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences] Jeremy [Knowles] explained that the library was lagging far behind other campaign priorities and so asked us to increase our $1 million commitment to the library to $5 million. I said 'absolutely,' in part because of Julie's interest in libraries, but also because this library is an international treasure and we recognize that it takes rather a lot of money to maintain it."

Julie Thompson, a volunteer librarian who has a master's degree in library science and is a member of the library visiting committee, was equally enthusiastic. "I often log on to the Internet to see what Harvard has in the library -- its riches are simply astonishing. People have been collecting these works for centuries and we must preserve Harvard's ability to sustain its unparalleled record of acquisition. It is also crucial that we provide an improved environment for the collections to protect them from deterioration or the risk of fire."

The Thompsons credit the library with drawing superior students and faculty to Harvard. "We get so many of the best students and have an unmatched faculty," noted Bill Thompson. "We run the risk of not attracting them if we do not take care of the library."

John Castle, who has two sons who graduated from Harvard College, agrees that the library is the centerpiece of the University. "Harvard's being named in honor of John Harvard's gift of books illustrates the degree to which books are the essential feature of an academic institution. In my view, the single most important physical asset of the University is its library, and the Harvard library is significantly greater than any other university library in the world," he commented. "I personally always feel inspired and energized when I sit in a library among so many great books."

Castle continued, "The Harvard collection includes many materials filled with authors' marginal notes and edits -- vital information for scholars seeking to understand authors' efforts years, even centuries, later. We must preserve this collection, part of which is now in danger of literally falling apart."

Chair of the library campaign committee, Castle made a $1 million gift.

Another major donor to the library is The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, which recently contributed $500,000 to establish the Littauer Judaica Student Assistantships endowment. Foundation President William Lee Frost said, "We wanted to secure permanent funding for student employees to ensure the continued smooth functioning of the Judaica library operation, which has become an important resource to Jewish studies scholars all over the world."

This latest commitment comes on top of the Littauer Foundation's previous gift of $1.5 million to endow the position of Littauer Hebraica Technical and Research Services Librarian in the Judaica Department of Harvard College Library.