New Endowment Announced Spring 2023
The Friends of the Library announced their next endowment fundraising goal: the creation of an endowment that will allow the library to invest in resources, training, and the funding of a paid internship that will help more people feel like they belong at the library. This endowment, currently called the Belonging Endowment, will be for the benefit of all students at Otterbein. Money for this endowment might go towards things like upgrading library spaces to be more accessible for people using wheelchairs, crutches, or scooters while healing from a sports injury; installing software on our 100+ computers that make the internet and computer programs understandable for blind and visually-impaired students and community members; providing more resources for students and Friends for whom English is not their first language; and/or purchasing equipment that will help students with their mental health during stressful times. In addition, the endowment would fund professional development opportunities for library staff, with training focused on making the library more welcoming for all people.
The endowment will also fund a paid internship for an undergraduate student to work in the library, called the Luminaries internship. The Luminaries internship is designed to connect students with an interest in the library sciences with the day-to-day work of a library while also building on their specific goals, providing them with connections and networking opportunities that will open doors for them upon their graduation. The aim of the internship is to make libraries more inclusive for all people; by funding a paid internship, the endowment will ensure that students who are struggling financially have the same opportunities as their more financially secure peers. Further, a student intern can help professional staff learn more about how to help people feel a sense of belonging at the library.
The creation of this endowment will help the library fulfill its mission of championing lifelong learning through access to quality information, diverse resources, engaged collaborations, and a welcoming community. The name for this endowment is still being decided, but input is welcome.
The Friends are incredibly excited about this new endowment, as it will help students from all backgrounds. The previous endowment campaign, focused on Textbook Affordability, has already made a difference in many people's lives, and the Friends are looking forward to expanding their impact even further. As a Friend of the Library, we know how much making a difference in the lives of our students means to you. Please consider making a donation to this new endowment by sending checks to:
Otterbein University
Advancement Services - Cellar House
1 S Grove St
Westerville OH 43081
In the memo line of the check, indicate that the donation is for the Friends of the Library new Belonging Endowment.
If you would prefer to make a donation online, visit Otterbein's Give Campus page. Under "Designation" select "Other" and type in "Belonging Endowment".
Your donation to the endowment will truly make a difference in helping make the library a more welcoming, open space for the students at Otterbein.