Temple’s new library—which will become the stunning centerpiece of Main Campus—will be named Charles Library in recognition of a $10 million gift from entrepreneur and university trustee Steve Charles, KLN ’80.
Charles’s gift—one of the largest individual contributions in Temple history—will be invested into an endowment to provide perpetual funding for Temple Libraries to attract and retain high-quality faculty and staff; maintain and enhance Charles Library; promote community outreach, partnerships and public programs; purchase and preserve materials and collections; and support technology and innovation.
“Steve’s gift is transformational in supporting Temple’s goal of building a 21st century library that will redefine campus life, sustain Charles Library at its optimal level and care for all of the valuable resources it will provide,” said Board of Trustees Chair Patrick J. O’Connor, who led the board in formally accepting the gift Tuesday.
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There are natural alignments between Charles Library, a strikingly original structure designed by the world-class architectural firm Snøhetta, and the alumnus whose name it will carry. Rendering of Charles Library (via Temple University)
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Charles Library, set to open in May 2019, will feature technology such as high-performance computation that supports advanced research. It will also include a space-saving automated book retrieval system that will store most of the library’s volumes and create more space for collaboration.
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Charles’s gift to Temple Libraries follows a $1 million gift to name The Albert M. Greenfield Special Collections Research Center Reading Room on the first floor of the new library and to provide long-term funding to maintain that space.
Dean of Libraries Joseph Lucia said Charles Library will inspire Temple students and “provide a rich context” to connect them more deeply to one another for learning, conversation and creative work.
“Charles Library is a unique architectural presence on campus that will require continued investment to operate at its highest potential,” Lucia said. “Steve’s gift provides the financial capacity over the long term to achieve an endowment level that is liberating, exciting and a huge vote of confidence in Temple’s future. We couldn’t be more grateful.”
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area.
He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
