Dialing for Dollars: Telefunds Help to Build Library Resources

By Mary Castle

For three years the UTA Libraries have worked with the university Development Office on annual telefund drives. These summertime drives have focused on specific areas or disciplines needing additional financial support to enhance library resources.

"For the many years I've been at UTA, I have always been proud of the efforts that our UTA library has made to support the educational mission of UTA. The library has a very special place in my life. In the fall of 1994 I first met my husband there. In fact, he is now a member of the Friends of the Library."
............................Fay Van Dam

The first campaign in 1998 was directed toward School of Architecture alumni, local architectural firms, and members of the Friends of the Libraries, and was designed to build the resources in the Architecture and Fine Arts Library. That telefund raised more than $13,000, and purchased more than 140 current titles to strengthen the collection in contemporary architecture and twentieth century architects, according to Mitch Stepanovich, architecture librarian.

The summer 1999 telefund resulted in donations in excess of $10,000. Longtime members of UTA’s Alumni Association were contacted, and the donations garnered were devoted to library resources that support undergraduate education. Library staff recommended using the gift monies to acquire back volumes of important print journals that are not included in electronic databases and to add a new format of materials for library users—electronic books. Selectors reviewed electronic books available from netLibrary, Inc. and chose 160 titles. These e-books are available for checkout from the Libraries’ web site and through a link in the online catalog (PULSe).

The most recent fund-raising effort in the summer of 2000 benefited the Libraries’ Minority Cultures Collection. Specifically, this past summer’s telefund raised close to $9,000, all of which will be used to further build the library’s collection of resources by and about African Americans. In recent years, there has been an explosion in research and publishing in this field, and the demand is growing rapidly.

The Libraries are proud of their collaborations with the Development Office because these efforts increase library resources and have a real impact on library users. The library staff thanks Kerry Watterson and his staff for jobs well done!