Special Development Priorities

Quality library resources and services are essential to teaching and learning. At the heart of the educational experience at MTSU is the library, providing materials from its own collections and access to resources from across the globe. To continue this important vision, private support is essential. There are a number of ways you can help the library continue to provide the resources and services necessary for a strong university. Please review the opportunities listed below. If you have any questions, there are individuals listed at the end of this page who can help provide answers.

Library Book Fund

The book fund supports individual or group purchases in particular subject areas of importance to the library. Donors may provide funds for a single purchase or multiple books and will be recognized through a special bookplate placed inside each book. In this way, individuals can easily add to the library collection and assist in strengthening a subject area or helping to purchase materials the library has not been able to acquire.

Endowed Positions

Individuals can ensure excellent resources and services by endowing a position in the MTSU Library. Interest earned from the endowment will be used to pay the salary of the position. In this way, the library can utilize budgeted salary funds for other pressing staff needs. The need for new positions has become critical over the last few years as the university has experienced dramatic growth, demands for service have increased, and staffing has remained the same, or in some cases, reduced. Quality staff are essential to excellent library service.

The Dean

Interest earned from this fund would be used to pay the salary of the chief administrative head of the library and allow budgeted salary funds to be applied to other pressing staff needs in the library.

Special Collections Librarian

In addition to supplying general materials and access to resources, the library has a role in acquiring and preserving materials that reflect special emphases, hold historical significance, or in some way reflect a unique culture pertinent to MTSU. The Special Collections Librarian will help provide the vision and organization to carry out this role. Interest from this fund would be used to support the salary of the position, freeing up budgeted funds for important purchases and operations.

Preservation Librarian

Many of the materials in libraries today were printed on highly acidic paper. When combined with heavy use and exposure to the environment, these materials are in danger of eventually disappearing into dust if they are not properly maintained. Preservation is a very important issue in libraries today. As the center for access to the intellectual record, the library must also be a preserver of that record. New generations of students and faculty must be able to find the books and journals they need for learning and growth. Funds would be used to endow the position.

The Fund For Library Excellence

Dramatic inflation in the price of library materials has significantly impacted the library's ability to meet the needs of the university's academic programs. In addition, new formats for information are forcing decisions between print and electronic versions. New books, journals and nonprint resources must be enhanced by electronic access to information and staff with the skills to provide new services to the MTSU community. It is essential that the university provide quality library resources and services. Gifts will form an endowment for purchase of materials needed by students, faculty, and researchers.

Building Naming Opportunities

With the construction of the new campus library, supporters can now take advantage of a rare opportunity to lend their name to a physical portion of the new building, and provide ongoing support for library service to the MTSU community. Opportunities now exist to lend your name to this important resource and help build a secure, quality educational future at MTSU. See the Naming Opportunites page for more information.

The Preservation Fund

Important library materials often wear out from use and cannot be replaced. Many printed works were created using highly acidic paper and are subject to disintegration. Libraries are increasingly responsible for preserving as well as providing information. Care for the collection has become an important aspect of library operations.

Bookplate Program

Named library funds provide a special opportunity to provide ongoing support for book or periodical subscriptions. With a gift of $10,000 or more, an endowment can be established to fund purchases of books for the MTSU Library. A bookplate will be placed in each book purchased through an endowment. Book endowments can be given by a single individual or by several donors to provide a lasting source of library materials for future generations of students.