Celebrating Our Library Sponsors

Every year, almost every Eastern student and most faculty members visit EWU Libraries – at the 153,000-square-foot JFK Library and online. Why do people donate money to support EWU Libraries? Read their stories, in their words.

When we look through the eyes of our generous donors and why they give to the EWU Libraries, it is an affirmation for how integral libraries are in enriching the lives of many. Here are their stories:

Doug Myers (class of ’70, BA political science, minor in ROTC), speaks of one of the
factors behind the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity giving back to EWU through the Library: “The Zeta Nu Chapter of PKA chose to donate to the EWU library as a means to repay the university for what it gave us some 50 years ago. We believe that by donating to the library, we would reach more students and the public in general by providing the library with additional funds to digitize the many important research papers, artwork and other historical items that would otherwise be unavailable to these groups. It has turned out to be a wonderful relationship and one we look forward to supporting in the years to come.”

Jay Rea, university archivist emeritus and long-standing donor to the EWU Libraries’
yearly fundraiser, Oktoberfest: “In the last several years of my service on the library faculty, I was responsible for the collection development funds. The cost of periodicals was skyrocketing. I spent the last six months of my service in meetings with deans and department chairs to identify which periodicals and journals could be canceled with the least impact on their programs. It was not a fun time. On the plus side, I met with my peers at the other six state institutions to form a consortium to purchase journals online. It was the beginning of Orbis Cascade – a consortium through which the resources of most academic libraries in Oregon and Washington are shared. The advances in technology have created systems, which make information available worldwide. The bottom line is that state funds and tuition are not sufficient to meet the expanding needs. That is why I have supported Oktoberfest, the library’s fundraiser, and have invested in a charitable gift annuity with the EWU Foundation, which will benefit the Library’s endowment fund.”

William “Bill” Youngs, EWU history professor: “I have frequented Kennedy Library for almost half a century – 44 years, to be exact. Soon after arriving at Eastern in 1972, I arranged to use a study carrel at the library as a retreat where I could concentrate on writing and course preparation. I changed that location only once when the removal of a wall during library expansion left one side of my little retreat open to the void. I have written parts of five books in the library and spent many hours “walking the stacks.” The library staff has helped me discover new resources, order books and learn reference sources. I sense in the library a kind of irreducible friendliness, whether I am asking a complicated question of a reference librarian or checking out a book with a student worker.

“Over the years, I have seen the library adjust wonderfully to the brave new world of online resources. Two examples stand out. When I was working on my PhD dissertation at Berkeley, I used microcards (think microfilm) to read books published 300 years ago. Reading and note-taking were laborious and slow. And, finding relevant material was even slower. Today I can go to the library website and find all of those early American resources with a few keystrokes, ready to print out or read online. These changes require not only time but also financial resources. I know my contributions to the library are well used.

“To me, there is something in the atmosphere of the library that I especially cherish. Yes, I can access those online resources without even being in the library, but simply being there has a value greater than the sum of individual resources. Just as a cathedral or a natural wonder has a compelling atmosphere, so does a great library. In each case, part of the attraction is in the presence of others sharing that space. In the case of Kennedy Library, what is remarkable is the way that it embraces our students and our students embrace it. I sense this at all times, but especially on those occasions when I stay in my carrel until 10 or 11 at night. On a break, I stroll past study desks and glance at students deep in thought or conversation, focusing on a book or a computer screen. I am reminded then that in Kennedy Library I am at the very heart of the academic enterprise at Eastern Washington University and I am grateful … That is why I contribute to the EWU Libraries.”

Mark and Kathi Eckerich (classes of ’73, BA radio-television, and ’71, BA social work): “Three years ago, my wife Kathi and I were asked to display our antique car in front of the EWU Library to promote the annual Oktoberfest fundraiser whose theme was the Roaring ’20s. We didn’t know much about the library other than what we remembered as students there in the early ’70s.

“We had so much fun and were so impressed with the event, its goals and the staff that worked so hard to put this event on that we became donors and are now also involved with the Oktoberfest planning committee.

“The goal of Oktoberfest and other donations is to provide additional funding for many different aspects of the EWU Library. As we are all aware, standard operating budgets don’t always provide adequate money for needed programs and scholarships, and giving back to EWU is important to us. Kathi and I met while attending Eastern, and we are still involved in various campus organizations. Donating to the EWU Library is just a good choice.”

Mary Cullinan, former EWU president: “The JFK Library is a vibrant center of EWU’s academic
and university life. Donations not only enrich the library’s focus on learning and research but also support the mission of the university as a whole. If you love learning, support the library!”