At present we have 91 members---an increase of 50 members! We are very fortunate to have members in each Friends category. We would like to welcome Lifetime Members Russell Babcock, Ronald L. Dzierbicki, and William R. and Meribeth Steers. We would also like to recognize major gifts from We would also like to recognize major gifts from Mr. & Mrs. Charles Gross, Mrs. Dallas Harger, Mr. Bud Johns, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Klapperich, Mr. Andrew Kooi, Mr. & Mrs. Henry MacMorran III, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Masterson, Mr. & Mrs. David Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Donald Mueller, Drs. Jack & Kitty Padgett, Mr. Allison Thomas, Dr. and Mrs. Melvin Vulgamore, Mr. Joe Wilcox, and Dr. and Mrs. John Williams. In addition, we have received a number of gifts for the Dorothy Clark Smith and Family Endowment, the John Hart Library Endowment, the Class of 1946 Reunion Project, the Jens & Margaret Touborg Library Endowment, and the Joesph J. Irwin Library Fund.
The Friends introduced two new programs, the Odd Topics Society Luncheon Group and an annual lecture on the treasures in the library's Rare Books and Archives Room. Both programs opened to rave reviews. The Odd Topics Society has been very successful and more fun than we could have ever imagined. At our first meeting we learned about the plight of the Dodo bird and later we "ooohhhhed" and aaahhhhed" over a collection of vintage Albion College memorabilia. At other luncheons, we discussed our favorite Star Trek characters and learned about Comet Hale-Bopp and the unusual Garden of Ian Hamilton Finlay. Jim Cook's talk on Hindu toilet taboos, etc., was so odd that he received national media attention!
Our introductory presentation on "Treasures in the College Library's Rare Books and Archives Room", presented by John Kondelik and Claudia Diaz, was a hit. Their talk generated so many questions, they almost missed the Preview Book Sale! Speaking about the booksale, despite having a smaller than usual number of items to sell, the Friends' annual book sale generated -----for the library. Once again, the Silent Book Auction proved to be popular and profitable.
Last November, David Wright, Visiting Professor of English, shared his research on Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Men of North Carolina to an audience of 50+. His talk about the history of this all-black U.S. Lifesaving Service unit had the audience on the edge of their seats.
The Friends continued to host the Books and Coffee Prgoram with the English Department.
The recently concluded Albion College Capital Campaign enriched the Library Endowment to the tune of 2 million dollars. Placques engraved with the names of the major donors to the William R. and Meribeth Steers Library Collection Endowment will be placed at the entrance to the library in the near future. THANK YOU to all who contributed so generously.
Thanks to the generous support of our Friends, the library was able to purchase the wonderful 21 volume Oxford Illustrated Dickens. We were also able to acquire an outstanding collection of British W.W. I and W.W. II paperbacks written for young boys. We also added a number of 20th century American fiction titles and foreign language videos. Additionally, funds were used to repair and rebind the beautifully illustrated Formal Gardens in England and Scotland published in 1902 and the 6th Census of the United States. Both of these titles reside in the library's Rare Books and Archives Room. Your support also allowed us to frame 3 donated prints located on the Mudd lower level.