Class of '56 Endows Humanities Library

Fifteen years ago the Class of 1956 set a goal to raise a $400,000 endowment for the Library.

It has taken time to achieve this ambitious goal but when class leaders jubilantly announced their success at their 40th reunion last month, alumni, librarians and scholars had much to celebrate.

The endowment totals $642,000, 160 percent of the established goal, including matching funds from the Library's National Endowment for the Humanities challenge grant. More than 700 individuals contributed, 35 percent of the class. The endowment is the largest class gift ever received by the Library. And according to national library leaders, it is the only gift of its kind to a public university library.

Members of the Class of '56 who played prominent roles in the effort included William S. Floyd and Jon and Ann Reynolds (both made keystone gifts), and Reunion Committee members Stuart McKee, Barbara Chinn, John Mason, Marianne "Poppy" Tanner, Marianne McDermon, Sharon Lyons and Peter Van Houten.

Income from the endowment will be used to preserve rare books, manuscripts, and other materials in Berkeley's pre-eminent humanities collections, according to a statement by Class Gift Committee President McKee.

Most of the required preservation repair, maintenance and reformatting will be performed in the Library's own state-of-the-art conservation laboratories.

"With this gift, for the first time in the country, a group of alumni has understood the strategic importance of preservation and supported it with unprecedented generosity," said librarian Peter Lyman in accepting the gift on behalf of the campus. "Library directors throughout America will take note of the enlightened leadership of Berkeley's Class of 1956.

"Preservation of rare and endangered library materials is a matter of national concern, which has led to unparalleled kinds of library support and the development of new conservation technologies," Lyman added.

1997 Cal Calendar

Public Affairs has produced a new 12-month 1997 Cal calendar with full-color photos of campus buildings and scenes.

These 9 1/2 by 11 1/2-inch calendars include academic calendar dates as well as some events, such as Charter Day and the Big Game.

Individuals may buy the calendar for $8 each at the Visitor Information Center, 101 University Hall, and from Public Affairs, 101 Sproul Hall or at the Club Cal Employee Sale at Alumni House Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Campus departments and administrative units may buy calendars for $5 each in lots of 10, with a minimum order of one lot ($50).

To place an order, call 642-0702.

Mario Savio Memorial

Friends of the late Mario Savio, a Berkeley student leader in the Free Speech Movement in the 1960s, have scheduled a public memorial service for Sunday, Dec. 8, at noon in the Pauley Ballroom. Savio was a mathematics teacher at Sonoma State University when he died Nov. 6 at age 53.

Professional Skills Assessment Deadline

The Professional Skills Assessment Program will be offered on April 7 through 11. The goal of the systemwide program is to provide participants with specific feedback regarding their strengths and the areas in which they could use improvement in skills deemed essential for success at the professional level.

The application deadline is Jan. 17. For information and/or applications, call Employee Development and Training at 642-8134.

Staff Assemblies Systemwide Meeting

The campus will host a systemwide meeting of the Council of UC Staff Assemblies Dec. 12 and 13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Lipman Room of Barrows Hall.

The group's goal is to improve communications among staff of all campuses and with UC's systemwide administration. The meeting is open to the campus community.

Among those addressing the Thursday morning meeting will be the Vice Chancellor and Provost Carol T. Christ and Vice Chancellor Horace Mitchell.

In the afternoon, Lubbe Levin, assistant vice president for human resources at the Office of the President, will address the group, followed by President Richard. C. Atkinson at 4 p.m.

On Friday, Elaine Fukuhara Schilling will talk about employee training and development. In the afternoon, Regent William Bagley will speak.

Free Berkeley Shopping Loop Shuttle

No meters or parking hassles, just shopping fun. Take the Berkeley Electric Shuttle Transit on a shopping loop through Albany and Berkeley during the holiday season.

Visit nine of Berkeley's shopping districts, each with its own distinctive quality -- downtown Berkeley, north Shattuck, Solano Avenue, Gillman Street, Fourth Street, University Avenue, Adeline/Alcatraz, Elwood and Telegraph Avenue.

The first shuttle leaves the downtown Berkeley BART station at 11 a.m. The last shuttle arrives at the same station at 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22. Shuttles will run approximately every half hour and are free for all riders. For information call 549-7000.