University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Magazine 2018 Fall Libraries Magazine | Page 24

A Message from the Friends President Dear Friends of the UW–Madison Libraries, With their rich and varied content, the issues of this magazine afford multiple opportunities to learn about the collections, services, and staff of one of America’s great university libraries. Together the Libraries do much to make the University of Wisconsin– Madison a special place for teaching and research, for learning in groups and as individuals, and for sharing with others both the joy and the benefits of these manifold discovery processes. But what about the Friends? What do we do? Our mission statement identifies four particular goals: • To stimulate interest in the use of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries within the campus and community; • To advance recognition of library collections and service through publications, grant programs, special events, Friends development, and other outreach activities; • To strengthen the campus libraries via grants for collections, preservation, and scholarly research; • To continue the development of a long- term endowment fund ensuring continuity of Friends programs, and to attract and encourage monetary gifts as well as gifts- in-kind, in recognition of the needs and potentials of the libraries. A board of directors provides overall policy guidance and fiscal control. But much of the actual work goes on in committees. If you’ve ever come to one of our semi-annual book sales (the largest of their kind in Wisconsin!), you’ve seen some of the dedicated volunteers who make this fund-raising effort such a success. Other committees are less visible. A grants committee manages grants to scholars (mostly early-career) from other institutions for brief research stays using the university’s extraordinary collections. It also manages a separate program of grants to assist the libraries in meeting special needs in collection development and in collection preservation. An events committee provides planning input for a variety of joint events on and off campus and recommends Friends funding for them. These events, which can have very different audiences, are intended to increase awareness of the university’s library collections and to promote the scholarly and imaginative reading or listening or viewing they enable. Lastly, a publications committee assists in the production of this very magazine. How can you help? Two ways come to mind. 1. Volunteer to serve on a committee. The work is important and it won’t get done unless people donate their time to do it. For details and other assistance, please contact Libby Theune at [email protected] or 608-265-2505. 2. Donate to the Friends. All donors to any UW–Madison Libraries fund are considered to be a Friend of the Libraries. Donations to the Friends of the Libraries Fund specifically underwrite activities of the Friends and for that reason are especially welcome in this context. To donate to the Friends of the Library Fund, give online through the University of Wisconsin Foundation. The Friends of the UW–Madison Libraries have been hosting a book sale twice a year since 1995. Over the course of 45 sales, the Friends have sold more than 1,125,000 items! These books, music, maps, and movies were all donated by campus and community members. The Friends are proud to provide a sustainable option for unwanted books and an opportunity for these materials to be rediscovered by delighted new owners. If you have books to donate, please contact the Friends at [email protected]. Someone will love you for it. What do the Friends do with the book sale income? In addition to giving grants to libraries and scholars, we give back to the community by bringing in great authors and speakers. Our events are always free and the public is welcome. Check out our events listing on page…. ! Friends of the UW–Madison Libraries Board Members John Dillon, President Joshua Calhoun, Vice President Kathryn Jones, Treasurer Oscar Mireles, Secretary Patricia A. Bender Joanne Berg Michael Chaim Maggie Flamingo Jim Fleming Kenneth Frazier Al Friedman Toni Good Richard Leffler Don’t miss the Friends of UW–Madison Libraries Semi-Annual Book Sale! Laura Monahan Elisabeth Owens Richard Pifer William Reeder OCTOBER 10-13, 2018 • Wednesday, October 10, 4–8 PM (Preview sale, $5 admission fee) • Thursday and Friday, October 11 & 12, 10:30 AM–7 PM • Saturday, October 13, 9 AM–1 PM ($5-A-Bag-Sale) Mary K. Rouse Maria Saffiotti Dale Catrina Sparkman Lisa Carter, ex officio Nancy Graff Schultz, ex officio Robin Rider, ex officio Libby Theune, Administrator With thanks, John Dillon President, Friends of the UW–Madison Libraries 24 | LIBRARIES Fall 2018 Did you know? library.wisc.edu/friends Facebook.com/FriendsofUWMadLibraries 608-265-2505 University of Wisconsin–Madison | 25