A $1 million gift to the University of Oregon Libraries has pushed the largest fundraising campaign in state history past the $415 million mark campaign, officials said.
Campaign chair Randy Papé said Campaign Oregon: Transforming Lives, initiated in 2001, is steadily building momentum toward its $600 million goal.
“This gift increases the total of gifts to the library to $9 million,” he said.
The donation by Paulson Investment Company, Inc., announced Tuesday, will benefit Special Collections, a library department that houses rare books, manuscripts, historical photographs and unique materials, Dean of Libraries Deborah Carver said.
Most research libraries contain roughly the same general books and documents. Their special collections contain regional rarities and the most valuable documents that make each library distinctive, Carver said.
“Special Collections is central to our status as a major research library. These resources exist nowhere else, and we have a responsibility to researchers around the world to preserve them and make them available,” Carver said. “The Paulson gift will benefit many generations to come.”
Carver also said the endowment will be used to increase accessibility to the Special Collections department through technology.
“We know now that any information that exists without a Web presence essentially ceases to exist,” she said.
Chet Paulson, 1958 University graduate founder and chairman of Paulson Investment, the northwest’s largest independent brokerage firm, said he was proud of the gift and noted the pride he felt in giving something back.
“I feel it was a good thing for us to do and the people in our organization have really supported us,” he said.
Paulson has given to the University’s libraries in the past, providing funds in 1992 to purchase the libraries’ 2 millionth volume and in 1999 when Paulson Investment created an endowment that supported library technology.
“We thought maybe we’d step it up a notch or two,” he said. “I like libraries. I like books, and it was a place that I spent time at and was comfortable with, so it was kind of a natural pick for us.”
University President Dave Frohnmayer thanked Paulson for his generosity and announced that the Special Collections Reading Room will be renamed the Paulson Reading Room. He also presented Paulson with a framed print of the room to commemorate his continued support of the University.
Papé also praised Paulson as an alumnus dedicated to the institution.
“We are just absolutely delighted Chet has pledged his continued support through our leadership council,” he said. “We thank you very much from the bottom of our heart.”
Campaign Oregon nears $600m goal
Daily Emerald
May 23, 2006
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