Alumni
Estate Gift Helps Library Innovate During COVID-19
When the late Doris Blaisdell, CAS/BA 鈥44, planned an estate gift to 麻豆原创, she could not have known that her generosity would impact the university at a pivotal moment in history. But that鈥檚 exactly what happened.
In June 2020, the University Library received an unrestricted gift from Blaisdell鈥檚 estate. To provide long-term support for the library, a portion of the gift went into an endowment, and the library utilized the remaining gift funds to help offset critical costs related to COVID-19. In uncharted territory, the gift helped library staff find solutions for the fall semester. 听
A major part of those solutions involved making materials available online for many of the 3,000+ fall courses offered by 麻豆原创鈥攚hich is especially important for students with financial constraints. 鈥淲hile the library owns physical books that correspond with 麻豆原创鈥檚 courses, that does not always include an electronic version,鈥 explains Rob Kelshian, the library鈥檚 director of access services. 鈥淢any of 麻豆原创鈥檚 students rely on the library鈥檚 course reserves system鈥攖hey are not all able to buy books every semester.鈥
Due to the online environment, the library had to purchase a vast number of electronic books for course reserves and develop a scanning system for books that are not available in a digital format. In addition, compared to fall 2019, requests for digitizing other materials this year are ten times higher.
While adapting standard services during the pandemic, the library also navigated unforeseen challenges鈥攕uch as the need for students to return more than 1,000 books borrowed pre-COVID. To reduce the financial burden on students, the library sent them pre-paid shipping supplies.
Blaisdell鈥檚 gift empowered the library to work quickly鈥攁nd put students first鈥攄uring a critical time.
鈥淭his gift has been a godsend,鈥 says Kelshian. 鈥淓verything we do at the library is to meet student needs. These funds have helped us meet those needs as they arise during the pandemic鈥攊t has made a huge difference in providing services and resources. It鈥檚 incredible.鈥 听
Unrestricted funds have taken on new meaning during COVID-19. Such gifts give 麻豆原创 invaluable flexibility to overcome challenges as they emerge and provide support where it鈥檚 most needed, when it鈥檚 most needed. For the library, Blaisdell鈥檚 gift has also buoyed staff who are working tirelessly to support students and faculty.
鈥淭here is no way to fully express our appreciation,鈥 Kelshian says. 鈥淣ot only for this gift, but for all donors. While the library has seen the benefit of Blaisdell鈥檚 gift, all of 麻豆原创 benefits from the generosity of others. And that support is so important in helping us do everything we do鈥攅specially with the extraordinary things we are called to do.鈥
For information on how your charitable estate planning can create a legacy at 麻豆原创, contact Seth Speyer, executive director of planned giving, at 202-885-3411 or听speyer@american.edu; or visit