2023-2024 Impact Report

From the desk of Jeff Steely, dean of libraries:

Shortly after Kathryn and I were married, a couple of books from her Mennonite tradition became meaningful to me. “Living More with Less” and the “Living More with Less Cookbook” emerged from a community that took itself and its stewardship of resources very seriously. They had a global perspective which had evolved from engagement with communities around the world and a commitment to simplicity. As students who were working our way through college and as young parents, we found the practical advice on simple living and affordable meals both useful and meaningful. The recipes for dhal and peach chutney in the cookbook remain family favorites.

The University Library also has a bit of a “more with less” orientation. I am proud of our team’s ruthless efficiency. We make the most of the resources we have. We manage the challenge of increasing journal and database costs with data-driven decisions. We work together to fill in the gaps when we have a vacancy. We extend ourselves to create meaningful learning experiences for our students. 

But, at some point, doing more with less is unsustainable. I believe our students and faculty deserve better. We can do more with more. That is where your support comes in. Your investment in the University Library strengthens services, creates a more dynamic learning environment for students, and improves staff morale. 

In the stories that follow, you will see some of the accomplishments of our team during the past year:

• Our Research Data Services (RDS) department created a new hands-on learning curriculum, teaching career-ready data skills to students while helping them explore the issue of food insecurity. This work was funded in part by a grant from the Public Interest Technology – University Network. 
• Special Collections & Archives, Research & Engagement, and RDS partnered to bring NPR and WABE into the library for a meaningful exploration of oral history and podcasting skills.
• The library has served as a forum for exploration through multiple exhibits, ranging from Peruvian culture to the intersection of science and art to a celebration of GSU scholarship. 
• We purchased collections to enhance the resources available for the GSU community and acquired archival collections that enhance our library as a place for primary source research. 
• We completed a large, complex, and collaborative digitization project, building our tremendous digital library for worldwide research.

Every one of these accomplishments is undergirded in some way by philanthropic support. Gifts to the GSU Fund for the University Library support our annual staff development day. Gifts to our various endowments build our capacity to process and acquire special collections, support librarians’ professional development, and support innovative new approaches to library services. Over the past year, significant cash gifts and large planned gifts provide for the current and future care of our large photographic collections. 

As 2024 winds down and you consider year-end opportunities to support those institutions that mean the most to you, I hope you will consider an investment in the work of the University Library. Please reach out and let me know if you would like to have a conversation about how your gift can advance our work.

Download the 2023-2024 Impact Report

Our Impact Report highlights the library’s accomplishments and stories of how our work makes a difference for students, faculty, and the community. Discover how we’ve supported research, encouraged innovation, and created spaces that inspire learning and connection. Download your copy to explore the library’s impact this year.

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