DONOR RECOGNITION

The strength of the University’s academic programs is directly related to the strength of its Libraries. Albany’s Libraries rely on the continued support of alumni and friends who continue to ensure our long-term innovation, growth, and development through support of endowments and the annual fund.

Dr. Paul ’53, ’54 and Doris ’52, ’53 Ward are active members of the Library Development Committee. They support and advance an endowment, Materials in Fine Arts and Performing Arts Fund for the Libraries, a $250,000 initiative. Other supporters of this initiative include Robert ‘52 and Joan ‘52 Barron, M. Lourdes "Malu" Reyes Bautista ’69, Maureen “Mo” Cowie ’82, Carla Craft, Jim and Georgiana Panton, and Mary Sellen.

Another longtime library supporter is Marcia Brown '40. Ms. Brown is a world-renowned children's book illustrator and author; she is the only person who has been awarded the American Library Association's prestigious Caldecott medal for children's picture book illustrations three times.

Ms. Brown has named the University Libraries as the repository of her life's work, including her correspondence, manuscripts, drawings, final art, books, and puppets.

Understanding the costs involved in processing and preserving her collection, Ms. Brown established a fund for this purpose in 1994, with a $10,000 donation. Since that time, Ms. Brown has continued to give generously to the University Libraries, in part for the fund in her name, and in part to the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives to support the work of the educational programs.

Marcia Brown

To honor Ms. Brown's intellectual and financial support of the Grenander Department, the University Council voted unanimously to name the Special Collections and Archives Research Room in her honor. On November 2, 2001, The Marcia Brown Research Room was officially designated.