Acquisitions
Turn of the 20th Century Mexico Photo Album
A rare collection of photographs from esteemed photographers A. Briquet, C.B. Waite, and Cox & Carmichael, showcasing their work in Mexico at the turn of the 20th century. With support from the Friends in 2022, the Cushing Memorial Library & Archives acquired the album as an addition to the Area Studies Hispanic Collections which documents the culture, history, and life throughout the Spanish language diaspora. This album offers a glimpse into everyday life at the turn of the 20th century in Veracruz and Mexico City. It presents unique images of day-to-day life in relation to the country’s increasing industrialization and modernization in that period.
University Libraries’ Sixth Millionth Volume
The Friends provided funding in 2020 for the purchase of the University Libraries’ 6 millionth volume: Extracts from the Votes and Proceedings of the American Continental Congress, 1774, 1775. The final and most complete version of the Extracts condenses the most important proceedings of the First Continental Congress and adds the proceedings of a Pennsylvania convention of January 1775. This final, complete version of the Extracts is significantly rarer than any of the version published later in 1774.
Library Pandemic Response
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, safety and wellness were deemed a top priority for students, faculty, and staff at A&M. The University Libraries response to the pandemic required installing protective barriers, placing informative and directional signage, and placing furniture to create outdoor study spaces. A Friends gift in 2020 supported a portion of these extraordinary and unexpected expenses.
Preservation Equipment
As part of a $150,000 initiative for the University Libraries’ Preservation Unit, the Friends funded the purchase of a high-resolution book scanning system – the fastest, highest quality book scanner utilizing two camera systems with a dual pedal-operated book cradle. The Preservation Unit is tasked with maintaining the six million volume general collection of the Libraries, preserving rare and special collections, and the digital preservation of materials in all five of the University libraries.
Technology and Media Equipment
The Texas A&M University Libraries has electronic equipment such as laptops, cameras, camcorders, and projectors available to be checked out for use in coursework, projects, or presentations, which are very popular with students, faculty, and staff. The Friends provided a gift in 2022 to support the purchase of new technology and media equipment, allowing the Libraries to supplement their existing inventory, retire outdated items, and increase their ability to meet increasing demand.
Howdy Week T-Shirts
The Howdy Week Library Open House gives Aggie students the opportunity to explore the Libraries, meet library staff and learn about the resources that are available to enhance their academic success – showing them that the Libraries are more than just a safe and quiet place to study. New and returning students have a chance to experience areas where they can create audio and visual presentations, use state of the art technology and equipment, access special collections and services available for their research needs, and learn about technology and equipment loaner programs. In 2022, due to COVID-19 supply chain issues, the popular Library Open House t-shirts cost far exceeded the budget. In order to allow the Libraries to fulfill their original plans for Open House, the Friends provided funding to assist with the purchase and distribution of the maroon Open House t-shirts.
