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Penny Drive
Penny Drive Poster


Penny Drive
Penny Drive Poster

To obtain print-quality JPEGs, contact the Office of Public Affairs at (815) 753-1681 or e-mail publicaffairs@niu.edu.


News Release

Contact: Tom Parisi, NIU Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-3635

February 9, 2005 

Penny drive marks acquisition
of library’s 2 millionth volume

DeKalb, Ill.— University Libraries wants your two cents worth. Actually, as many pennies as you can spare.

The Northern Illinois University library this week is kicking off a penny drive to commemorate the acquisition of its 2 millionth book. Donations will be deposited in an NIU Foundation account with a collection goal equivalent to more than 2 million pennies, or more than $20,000. The funds will be used to create a permanent endowment for the enrichment of library collections.

Of the thousands of university and college libraries nationwide, fewer than 115 hold 2 million volumes or more, said Arthur Young, dean of University Libraries.

"Acquisition of the 2 millionth volume puts us in elite company among academic libraries, among the top 3 percent," Young said. "To mark this milestone, we wanted to do something fun that would involve faculty, students and staff. And the penny drive to establish an endowment couldn’t be more appropriate. The library is a growing and vital resource for the entire university community."

Young later this spring will name a representative 2 millionth volume, to be presented during an April 7 celebration ceremony at Altgeld Hall. The ceremony will include a reception with food, music and an address by Nicholas Basbanes, a national authority on the history of libraries and collectors.

The library has grown immensely since its origins in 1895, when barbed wire baron Jacob Haish provided a $10,000 gift for its creation. When the library opened four years later in Altgeld Hall, it boasted 2,240 volumes—about one-tenth of 1 percent of University Libraries’ current holdings.

Andrew Krmenec, chair of the geography department and a member of the library’s 2 Millionth Volume Committee, said the fundraiser represents a way to make a lasting contribution to the library.

"A penny doesn’t sound like much," Krmenec said. "But if each of our students and faculty and staff members contribute the equivalent of 100 pennies, we will meet our goal and more than double the amount of the original seed gift from Jacob Haish."

The geography department and library staff have created penny-themed posters advertising the fundraising drive. Large water-cooler jugs to be used as donation receptacles are being set up at Founders Memorial Library, Holmes Student Center and departments across campus. Of course, donors aren’t limited to contributing pennies—dimes, quarters, bills and even checks are welcome. Castle Bank, N.A., in DeKalb has agreed to count and process the money.

"This fundraising drive is very appropriate because private donations have always played a vital role in building our library resources," said Mary Munroe, associate dean for collections and technical services at University Libraries. "We have quite a few endowments, most established by alumni or former faculty."

The library supports all academic areas on campus and has naturally grown right along with NIU. A major expansion occurred in December 1952, when students, staff and faculty lugged more than 83,000 books to the new Swen Franklin Parson Library (now the law school). Founders Memorial Library opened in 1977 and celebrated the acquisition of its millionth volume four years later.

The 2 millionth book volume was acquired sometime earlier this academic year, probably in October. "We buy on average 26,000 books a year, and our system generates periodic reports on the number of volumes we own," Munroe said. "By now, we actually have more than 2 million books in Founders."

In addition to Founders Memorial Library, University Libraries operates a number of branches, including the Faraday Science Library, Music Library in the Music Building, Map Library in Davis Hall and libraries at NIU campuses in Naperville, Rockford and Hoffman Estates.

Each year, library staff members respond to more 63,000 questions from users, process about 74,000 interlibrary loan requests and circulate more than 148,000 materials. The library also provides access to more than 3.5 million microforms, about 1.2 million documents, 18,000 periodicals, 8,000 electronic journals and 2,300 electronic books.

See www.niulib.niu.edu for more information on the library’s penny drive, including a list of locations where people can donate. Community or university groups interested in getting involved in the drive should contact Kathy Sherman at (815) 753-9802.

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