Rasmuson Library Rededication

Submitted by Pauline Gunter Wilson
Phone: (907) 474-6067
09/05/03

The University of Alaska Fairbanks library will be rededicated at a ceremony Friday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. to honor Elmer E. Rasmuson’s commitment to the library, education and Alaska’s heritage.

Contractors just completed $18 million in deferred maintenance and renovations in the library over the last two years. During the project each department of the library was temporarily relocated while each floor was renovated. Every item on every floor, including all collections, furniture and staff, moved twice once to level 5, and then back again after its original area was completed. "Renovating the library was like remodeling your house and having an open house every day," said Mike Ruckhaus, project manager. "This project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget due to a great team effort between UAF Facilities Services, the library staff and GHEMM Company."

Several activities are planned for the rededication and members of the Rasmuson family will be on campus for the event. On Thursday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. guest lecturer Frederick Lynden from Rockefeller Library at Brown University will present "Scholarly Communication and the University." The lecture will take place in the Wood Center Ballroom. Dennis Stephens, associate professor of library science, will present "Being a Librarian," his original one-act play based on turn-of-the-century librarian and outdoor writer Horace Kephart. The play takes place at 8 p.m. in the library. On Friday, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. Jack Walsdorf, a book collector and author from Portland, Ore., will present, "The Book, Scholarship and the Library." The public lecture will take place at the library.

The Rasmuson library opened in 1970 and is the largest in the state with a collection of more than 1.75 million volumes. Elmer Rasmuson was born in Yakutat in 1909 and served as president of the National Bank of Alaska, mayor of Anchorage, Permanent Fund Corp. chairman and as a member of the UA Board of Regents from 1950-69.

CONTACT: Pauline Gunter Wilson at (907) 474-6069 or e-mail ffpgw@uaf.eduor visit the library website at http://www.uaf.edu/library/news/rededication/index.html.