Laudati Gift Names Science Library Reading Room

Documenting UCI History

Local Schools Succeed with SPIRIT program

Upper Newport Bay Collection

Library Partners Provide a Record Amount of Support

Library Wish List

Librarian Promotes Information Literacy

Student Essay Contest Winners Recognized

2nd Annual Appreciation Event

Literary Luncheon

Library Speaker Series Event

Fall Library Exhibit

Regeneration and Rejuvenation

Library Partner Seymour Menton at fall exhibit opening

The Partners of the UCI Libraries raised a record $110,000 in gifts during 2003-04 to support the excellence and growth of the Libraries. Partners’ support and involvement is critical to the Libraries’ ability to keep pace with advances in research, new scholarly initiatives, and rapidly changing information technologies.

“We greatly appreciate the generosity of our members who understand the essential role of the Libraries to UCI’s high-quality teaching and research,” said University Librarian Gerry Munoff. “Through their annual membership gifts, the Partners provide critical funding to enhance our collections and provide the highest quality services and programs for students, faculty and community members.”

Left to right: Pat Beckman, Mary Roosevelt, Susan Redfield, & Elizabeth Stahr at library author event.

Partners’ support also helps bring the campus and community together through the Libraries’ popular Speaker Series, which features programs on faculty research, library collections, and interesting books or authors.
Over the past year the Partners have sponsored a number of fascinating presentations by UCI’s most distinguished faculty, including Donald McKayle on dance, James McGaugh on memory, and Robert Cohen on drama. Programs relating to the Libraries’ exhibitions and collections were also featured, including a talk by UCI M.F.A. graduate Bonnie Oda Homsey at the opening of our spring exhibit, which highlighted the legacy of renowned choreographer Martha Graham.

Prof. James McGaugh signs copies of his book at library author event

A variety of well-attended author events are held throughout the year. In April, Firoozeh Dumas, author of Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America, shared her unique personal story with over 200 guests; and in May, author Susan Segal discussed her compelling novel Aria, at the Libraries first Literary Luncheon. Partners also participate in the Libraries Book Club which brings community members into the libraries to discuss important books with librarians and faculty members who lead the discussions.

A number of the exciting programs planned for the coming year are described in the Exhibits and Events section of this newsletter. For further information on the Partners of the UCI Libraries, please contact the Libraries’ Development Office at (949) 824-4658. To conveniently join or renew your membership, please refer to the reply envelope enclosed in this newsletter.