Swanson [Valerie Shore photo]

Calling all bookworms
Buying books for the library is one way you can help support your university

Have you ever gone to take a book out of the library only to face the annoyance of not being able to find it? Then consider contributing to the Library Enrichment Fund.

“When we do surveys students tell us that we don’t have enough new books on the shelves and we need to change that,” says university librarian Marnie Swanson. “In fact, we need every penny we can get. The fund allows us to balance UVic’s collection and meet the changing needs of the students.”

While library staff can make the best use of the money by identifying and filling gaps in the collection, donors can also choose to designate their gifts. “For example, we have one contributor who specifically requests that the books we purchase with his bequest be in earth and ocean sciences,” says Swanson.

Birgit Castledine, acting executive director of alumni and development, has been giving to the Library Enrichment Fund since 1988. “Because I’m a fundraiser I wanted to choose something that would benefit the entire university,” says Castledine. “I know from Marnie how difficult it is to keep up with the increasing cost of books. I also love the smell and feel of books. They bring back so many fond memories of sitting in the stacks back in my own university days.”

The Library Enrichment Fund is just one of the funds to which UVic students, staff and faculty can contribute during the annual campus fundraising campaign. All gifts are completely voluntary. Pledge payments can be made by payroll deduction or in any manner that is convenient.

For more information contact Suzanne Dube at 472-4918 or by e-mail at suzd@uvic.ca or visit <development.uvic.ca/facultystaff.htm>.