Welcome Letter

Dear Friends and Supporters:

Brian E. C. Schottlaender

As we embark on a brand new year, the UC San Diego Libraries—like many libraries across the nation—are continuing to evolve. While some of our changes have been accelerated by recent and continuing budget cuts the Libraries have had to absorb, they also reflect technological and other advances over the last decade that have changed the way academic libraries provide knowledge resources and services to the communities they serve. In this issue of Domain, we highlight the new—technological prowess and e-book apps with Michel Kripalani—and the old—the marvelous collection of rare books and ephemera on bees amassed by Joe Bray. If content (and not format) is king, both electronic and print modalities of learning and understanding are important.

Also in this issue, we want to let you know about some interesting exhibitions at the Libraries, including one drawn from one of our most compelling special collections: the Southworth Spanish Civil War Collection, the largest and most comprehensive collections of materials on the Spanish Civil War. I am also very pleased to share with you the good news about a gift made recently by UC San Diego Professor Joel Dimsdale and his wife, Nancy, to support the Libraries by naming a group study room. Naming gifts like this one are a special way to support the Libraries—special, and appreciated now more than ever. Should the spirit move you, as it did Joel and Nancy, I am only too happy to discuss the possibilities with you, and to leverage your support with matching funds identified specifically for this purpose.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Domain.

With my best regards,

Brian E. C. Schottlaender

The Audrey Geisel University Librarian