Named Collection Endowments

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The Need

The foundation of a great University is a great library with strong collections that are both expansive and deeply layered. A library’s collection is invaluable not only for recruiting the best faculty and students possible, but also for contributing to the excellence of the University. Endowed collection funds are an essential part of the Library’s strategy to acquire the breadth of material necessary to a research university.

Rising costs for books and journals threaten our ability to meet these needs. The average price of scholarly journals has risen 215% over the past sixteen years. Book prices have increased by 82%. And yet, as costs for materials rise, our general operating budget does not keep pace. We must establish other funding sources in order to continue journal subscriptions and purchase new books at the levels required to support ongoing university research. To this end, private giving has become increasingly important to our efforts to provide strong library collections.

The Opportunity

You can help us provide the strongest possible library collections by funding a named collection endowment at the OSU Library. A named collection endowment provides ongoing support for the acquisition of books and other research materials in a specific subject area resulting in collections that are broader, deeper and more up-to-date than otherwise possible.

Current named collection endowments, which are funded at levels ranging from $10,000 to $1,100,000, are listed below. Funds are invested and earn interest in perpetuity. The Library uses a percentage of the interest to purchase materials. The remaining interest is reinvested, so the endowment can continue to grow.

Library endowments are usually named for the donor and are dedicated to library acquisitions in the area agreed upon by the donor and the Library. These named collection endowments may be established with a minimum contribution of $10,000, which can be donated in increments, but must be fully funded within five years.

Each book purchased from an endowment is recognized with a customized bookplate designed to the donor’s specification and a note in the online OSU Library Catalog indicating the book was purchased with funds from that endowment.

Established Named Collection Endowments

• The Class of 1939 Collection Endowment dedicated to library acquisitions for American literary excellence
• The Edmon Low Library Endowment to support the purchase of general library materials
• The Lottie D. Herd Library Endowment dedicated to library acquisitions in the areas of career guidance, job searches, or education
• The Jill, Cy, & Vi Lacher Holmes Collection Endowment to support the purchase of materials in the humanities
• The Joe & Adeanya Hunt Endowment for areas of critical need as determined annually by OSU Library Administration
• The Edward R. Johnson Endowment dedicated to library acquisitions in the area of Library Science Information
• Library Dean's Excellence Fund established by PResident and Mrs. Schimdly to purchase library materials in natural history
• The Lola H. Lehman Collection Endowment for areas of critical need as determined annually by OSU Library Administration
• The Chief Wilma P. Mankiller Collection Endowment for materials on issues of Native American sovereignty, Native American women and the 39 tribes officially recognized in Oklahoma
• Paul Miller Endowment to process, maintain and provide access to the Paul Miller Collection
• The Phillips Endowment for Government Documents established in 2005 to support the purchase of library materials for the Government Documents department
• The Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation Library Endowment for materials supporting the College of Veterinarian Medicine and general education
• The Rosalinn Swinka Endowment dedicated to library acquisitions supporting of Human Environmental Sciences
• The Stephanie Stone-Humphrey & Shellie Stone Library Endowment established by Bill and Toni Stone in honor of their daughters to purchase library materials
• The Mary L. Williams Collection Endowment for elementary and secondary education materials
• John & Kathryn William Library Endowment to support degree programs in the College of Education and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
• Verena Wise Memorial Endowment dedicated to library acquisitions in the area of horticulture studies
• The Women's Archives Endowment established with a matching gift from Edith Gaylord Harper. Costs associated with acquiring, preserving and publicizing library materials for the Women's Archives

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