On May 21, Pollak Library hosted a ceremony to dedicate the Library of Congress Bicentennial Commemorative Stamp.

What follows is the text of remarks made by Pat Bril, Associate University Librarian, at this special event.

[The official “unveiling” ceremony for the Library of Congress Bicentennial Stamp included June and George Pollak, Richard Pollard, Ernie Toy, and Bob Lockovich (U.S. Postal Service Representative). Following the ceremony Pat Bril participated in a live interview on radio station KFWB.]

“On behalf of Pollak Library’s faculty and staff, I welcome you to today’s special event in which we celebrate not only the Bicentennial of the Library of Congress but also the 40th Anniversary of Cal State Fullerton and its Library.

Many of you have just come from another special occasion, a luncheon sponsored by the Patrons of the Library to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their organization and also to recognize the founding University Librarian, Ernie Toy.

Before we move to the actual unveiling of the Library of Congress Commemorative Stamp, I will be sharing with you some reflections on the significance of this occasion for libraries in general and our library in particular. 

Now I would like to say a few words about the stamp itself and the 2nd day cover we have designed, before commenting briefly on the significance of this occasion. The stamp image is taken from a 1980 color photograph by Michael Freeman of the interior dome and several arched windows in the Main Reading Room of the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress. Ethel Kessler, known also for her design of the breast cancer stamp, designed this stamp.

The official first day cover was issued by the Library of Congress on April 24, the official anniversary of the founding of the nation’s library. In a gesture to call attention to the importance of libraries in the United States, the Library of Congress has encouraged all types of libraries throughout the country to join in its celebration by holding 2nd day cover ceremonies between April 24th and May 31st. James Billington, the current Librarian of Congress, stated: 

I encourage Americans to participate in programs and activities marking our 200th birthday. As you reflect on our nation’s accomplishments during the past century, you may recall the Jeffersonian principle upon which the Library of Congress was built—that free access to information and knowledge is one of the cornerstones of democracy.

For our 2nd day cover, we have used an image of the intersection of Pollak Library’s two building wings in a silk-screen cachet that was created for us by a company called Colorano Covers, located in New York. In addition, the local United States Postal Service has designed a pictorial cancellation stamp with the logo of Cal State Fullerton’s 40th Anniversary, being celebrated over 1999-2000.

Beyond the issuance of a special stamp, what more does the Library of Congress Bicentennial actually signify? Likewise, what does the mere 40th anniversary of Cal State Fullerton mean in comparison? 

The history of every library includes the particular set of circumstances that brought it into being. For the Library of Congress, of course it was the desire of the still rather young Congress to have a library of its own in its new Capital complex of buildings in Washington. Previously, the libraries of Philadelphia and New York had served Congressional needs. The library was founded in 1800 with a collection of 740 books and 3 maps. At the time, the population of the U.S. numbered 5.3 million. Today, the library contains nearly 119 million items, serving a population of around 275 million.

For CSUF, its library was founded in 1959 to serve the fledgling Fullerton campus of what was to become the California State University system. At that time there were 452 students and the Library’s collection was comprised of a couple hundred donated volumes. Now a collection of more than 2 million items is made accessible to a student body of more than 27,000.

Each institution has withstood challenges. In fact, we know that the basis of the Library of Congress’s current collection was the private library of Thomas Jefferson who sold his 6,500 volumes (for approximately $24,000) to Congress, after an original library building was burned down by the British during the War of 1812. Other fires in later years damaged or destroyed major parts of the collections.

While CSUF has not been attacked by the British, we have had our share of destructive events, including earthquakes, flooding, and a tragic shooting that killed 7 people in 1976. And, of course, all libraries dependent upon public funding have experienced budgetary challenges in securing adequate resources to develop and sustain their collections and services.

Space is a constant challenge for libraries. The Library of Congress now includes not only the historic Thomas Jefferson Building, which opened in 1897 and is depicted in the Bicentennial stamp, but also the John Adams Building completed in 1939 and the James Madison Memorial Building in 1980. But the need for additional space persists.

As we have just heard in Ernie Toy’s address to the Patrons of the Library, one of his greatest challenges as the founding CSUF librarian was to assure there were appropriate facilities to meet the needs of a rapidly growing campus community. His forward-thinking plans meant that the South Wing served us well for the better part of thirty years. The new North Wing of Pollak Library--which more than doubled our capacity--is likewise intended to allow for growth well into the future, and the state-of-the art information technology we are now able to offer as a result of the new structure has made us the envy of many other CSU libraries.

Another common theme among libraries is the spirit of cooperation that encourages the sharing of resources. 

As we know, the Library of Congress is the world’s largest library and contains incomparable collections of books, films, photographs, prints, maps, sound recordings, musical scores, and digital materials. In the case of the Library of Congress, its collections not only meet the needs of Congress but also are accessible to the general public, both on site and through interlibrary loans. Anyone over high school age may use the collections housed in more than 20 reading rooms. In addition, a number of its materials, especially rare and fragile historical items, have been digitized for universal access through the Internet at its Web site www.loc.gov.

While its collections are not as rich and varied as the national library, Pollak Library takes seriously its role as not only a university resource but also a community resource. Visitors to the Library may use our materials freely and, in particular, as a U.S. Government Document Depository we encourage the general public to take advantage of the vast information resources published by the Federal government. In addition, we participate enthusiastically in a number of interlibrary lending and borrowing agreements with other libraries, locally, nationally and even internationally.

Each library has a unique mission and seeks strategies to accomplish that mission. Librarian of Congress, James Billington, commented on the Library’s latest strategic planning effort focused on the year 2004. He stated:

At a time when our collective economic productivity is increasingly based on information and our creative use of individual freedom requires more lifelong learning, the Library of Congress has become increasingly important to the country as a unique resource. Because of its past stewardship and thanks to current technology, the Library can be tapped not only by the Congress…but by schools, libraries and the private sector everywhere. 

Pollak Library too is integral to Cal State Fullerton’s strategic plan as well as the CSU systemwide Library strategic plan. In both of these plans, a strong library is envisioned to advance the academic mission of the university. Increasingly, university libraries have assumed a leadership role in fostering information literacy and competence among students, often facilitated by new information technology. And it is in these efforts--to instill and inspire lifelong learning--Pollak Library sees its most important challenges and opportunities for the future. 

Thomas Jefferson believed that liberty and learning were inseparable and that a democratic people must have free access to information in order to carry out their civic responsibilities. His beliefs continue to resonate with us today, as we struggle to seek knowledge amid a swirling sea of information.

In an oft-quoted statement, Jefferson claimed, ‘I cannot live without books.’ If he were alive today, he might likely expand this statement to include all of the other formats in which contemporary libraries meet their users' needs and, perhaps, even tell us that he could not live without CDs, DVD’s, or the Internet! 

I know many of us have visited the Library of Congress and have stood in awe of the beauty of the Jefferson Building and the richness of its collections. When I was 17, my family took a vacation along much of the eastern coast of the U.S. and visited dozens of historic sites. Among all of these famous places, it was the Library of Congress that most impressed me. I had no idea I would eventually become a librarian, but perhaps a seed of inspiration was planted during my visit. And, as a result, I am especially pleased to be a part of this celebration today.”

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