Turn the page on the traditional view of the library as a collection of books housed within four walls, said Virginia Tech's Dean of Libraries Eileen Hitchingham at the kickoff of the libraries' portion of the Campaign for Virginia Tech on Nov. 22.

With the digitizing of various collections, the advance of computer information technology, and increased use of distance learning in electronic classrooms, libraries have become more accessible to people throughout the commonwealth and the world. A good portion of the university libraries' $3.5-million fund-raising goal will be to expand all these initiatives, Hitchingham says.

Campaign funds also have been earmarked for Newman Library's physical and electronic link up with the proposed Advanced Communications and Information Technology Center, the renovation of Newman Library, and the continued expansion of the libraries' book collection, now nearly 2 million volumes.

Lon Savage, chairman of Friends of the Libraries, was master of ceremonies for the event, which featured remarks by Hitchingham, President Paul Torgersen, Libraries Executive Fundraising Committee chairman Vinod Chachra, and John Grado '48, a trustee of the George Wallace Foundation, which recently awarded the libraries a $300,000 grant to acquire, preserve, and digitize materials in the Special Collections Department.

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Campaign climbs to 94 percent of goal

Calendar year 1996 came in like a lion and went out like a lion for the Campaign for Virginia Tech.

In March, gifts and commitments added up to $237 million, putting the campaign at better than 94 percent of its $250-million goal. During a 12-month period, the campaign total jumped nearly $54 million--or close to 32 percent--from its closing figure of $170.2 million on Dec. 31, 1995. Since the public kickoff in September 1995, campaign contributions have increased 50 percent.

Michael Carroll, associate vice president for development, attributes the campaign's strong performance in 1996 to several factors. He points to the efforts of the university's planned-giving staff in structuring gifts that will be of the most benefit to donors and to the university. As a result of those efforts, many donors are directing deferred gifts towards permanent endowment, boosting that portion of the campaign to more than 82 percent of its goal. "That is good news for the students, faculty, and programs of tomorrow," Carroll says, "since endowment builds equity for the future."

Carroll also emphasizes that the current operations segment of the campaign has benefited considerably from a broader based, more efficient Annual Fund. The introduction of the Pylon Society and the Senior Challenge programs are attracting support from young alumni and soon-to-be alumni, respectively, while a more active Parents Fund has significantly increased the participation of Tech parents. The Annual Fund's positive impact also can be traced to a new, automated telemarketing system that has enabled the phonathon program to reach many more alumni. These initiatives, plus a concerted effort to increase proposals submitted to and funded by corporations and foundations, has pushed the current operations segment to more than 93 percent of its $60-million campaign goal.

The campaign has provided the Virginia Tech family with a common goal, Carroll is quick to add. During the past 18 months, young alumni, senior alumni, friends, parents, President Paul Torgersen, and members of the university administration, faculty, and staff have all participated in some aspect of the campaign.

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