Anonymous Donor Supports Saint Mary's Library’s Critical Role in Student Success

Every year, a generous anonymous donor – well-known and beloved by the Saint Mary’s College of California library staff – consistently and thoughtfully funds priority projects for the library to support its critical role in student success.

Working in partnership with library staff, the donor provides funding for several priority projects identified by the library staff. Some of the diverse library projects that the donor has supported include seed funding for an Open Educational Resource (OER) initiative, collection acquisition, library furniture and equipment, and electronics such as iPads. 

“This person’s generous gifts promote student success and help students achieve their academic goals,” said Lauren MacDonald, Dean of the Library and Academic Resources and Director for the Museum of Art at Saint Mary's College of California. “We appreciate that this donor is very informed, understands libraries and the breadth and depth of library resources, as well as their impact on the student experience.”

The donor echoes that sentiment when explaining the focus on the library saying, “I was an avid reader, and spent a lot of time in libraries as a child and as a student. I understand how a library can be used, and the benefit of a library to all students.”

Meeting Students Where They're At

According to MacDonald, the donor has made a significant impact by providing the seed funding for an OER initiative created by the library committee. MacDonald explains that OERs – online, electronic resources that staff, faculty, and students develop together – have grown in direct response to the cost of higher education, and represent an effort by library staff and faculty to meet students’ needs for educational materials.

“OERs started emerging about 10 years ago as a way to respond to the crisis of high textbook prices,” she said. “Thanks to the donor’s support for faculty and staff stipends, we were able to launch this initiative to support students, and it grew rapidly.” Once the program was established at Saint Mary’s, the College joined Loyola Marymount University to earn a grant to expand the programs.

“All students should have access to educational materials, not just the students with the latest gadgets or the largest financial budgets," says the anonymous donor.

The donor also has an interest in library technology and leveraging technology to help students get access to critical educational materials. “All students should have access to educational materials, not just the students with the latest gadgets or the largest financial budgets.  Lack of access to educational materials and resources should not be an issue for students.” One year, the donor provided funds for specialized flat-bed scanners that allow students to scan articles and textbooks. 

The Personal Connection

This interest in access to resources is personal to the donor, who recalls spending most weekends and evenings in law libraries in the Bay Area while earning a paralegal certificate and BA in Law Studies in Saint Mary’s adult education program. “At the time, I had limited access to online resources/systems because they weren’t as developed yet, were expensive to use, or were accessed primarily by companies or by students attending formal law schools,” said the donor. “I understand the benefits of online resources and other technologies, and how they help all students.”

The donor’s experience as a graduate student at Saint Mary’s College and then as a member of the Board of Regents created a strong bond with the College. The donor supports Saint Mary’s and the library as a way to help students and recognize the education that the donor and other family members received at the College. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Saint Mary’s. I enjoyed my learning experiences, had great camaraderie with fellow students, and appreciated the faculty teaching in my program,” said the donor, who recalls that seminar-style classes were a particular highlight. “I gained invaluable skills in critical thinking, analysis, and logic that I’ve applied to many areas of my professional and personal life.”

Libraries have been transformed by technological advances and online resources since this donor attended Saint Mary’s, as well as by the availability of sophisticated computers and devices. The donor wants to help ensure that the College has the funds to continually update the library’s technology and resources, maintain its print collections, pay for new subscriptions and updated devices, and maintain and upgrade its facilities.

“Students need to be able to use technology and resources wherever they are – in their dorm rooms, elsewhere on campus, or in a multitude of other locations,” said the donor, who also sees the library as a community hub for the College. “The library should be a gathering place for students, who use it for quiet time for study or to gather with a team to work on projects.” The donor hopes that the financial support will keep the library vibrant and at the forefront of people’s minds.  

“The donor’s unwavering support for the library helps us attain resources that are directly used by students to support their educational experience,” said MacDonald. “We are deeply grateful for this generous support and thoughtful partnership.”

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