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Four-Millionth Volume |
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Four-Millionth Volume |
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The
University of Florida Athletic Association will fund an important milestone in
the UF Libraries’ history – the
four-millionth volume. The rare book, valued at nearly $20,000, is Urania
Propitia written by the first modern-era female astronomer, Maria Cunitz
(1610-1664). The volume underscores the university’s current directions for
it’s strategic energies in the sciences and humanities. It is one of only nine
surviving copies in the world.
For
many years the Athletic Association has partnered with the libraries in
providing funding for patron computers, books and journals when state budgets
fell. The Athletic Association has donated more than $400,000 to the university
library system since 1992 through proceeds from pay per view telecasts of Gator
football games.
“We
are proud of our long-standing commitment to the academic community at the
University of Florida,” said UF Athletics Director Jeremy Foley. “We are
honored to be associated with this key milestone in the history of the UF
library system.”
Dale
Canelas, director of University Libraries, emphasized that the UAA has been a
good friend to the libraries saying that back in the early nineties they
provided funding to equip the libraries' first electronic training room to
provide e-information programs for UF students.
Canelas
further noted that “by giving the libraries this milestone book, which
represents our four millionth volume, UAA is supporting the libraries’ most
meaningful activity: capturing the history and development of the scholarly
disciplines. It allows us to remember, to learn, and to pass on that memory and
learning to new generations.”
John
Ingram, the libraries’ director for collections, said that, “This support
joins the UAA’s outstanding program in athletics to the university's drive for
academic excellence in this our sesquicentennial year. Indeed, the juxtaposition
of athletics in support of library resources of all kinds has become a hallmark
for these two focal points of a university. The libraries are truly grateful for
the UAA's understanding and acceptance of the need to build the university's
intellectual resources in addition to its own athletic programs.”
Jeffrey Barr, curator of the rare book collection, remarked, "This is an absolutely stunning book. It is of the highest significance in the study of the history of science and is a major addition to the collection. Its acquisition will directly affect faculty and graduate student research. As always, we deeply appreciate the continuing active and significant involvement with the libraries demonstrated by the UAA."
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© 1999
University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries
P. O. Box 117001 Gainesville, FL 32611-7001 Please read our disclaimer. Send comments and/or questions about this site to Barbara Hood Last Updated February 17, 2003 |