NCSU Libraries Focus Online
Volume 21 number 3 - Spring 2001
Frank and Eleanor Hart Create Library Endowment
By Tony Reevy, Library Development
Franklin D. and Eleanor Hart have pledged to create the Frank and Eleanor
Hart Library Endowment. The fund will produce income supporting the NCSU Libraries'
collections in all subjects and formats.
Hart, past president of the Friends of the Library, says, "Eleanor and
I decided to found a library endowment because it is a lasting way to help
the library. We are pleased to have a continuing part in helping to keep the
NCSU Libraries strong and vigorous." Hart continued,
"As any student who has gone through the university or anyone who worked
for the university knows, it is important that NC State have rich library resources.
These resources benefited me a number of times during my career at the university.
In addition, those who love to read and love the pursuit of knowledge understand
that getting the real information that defines a particular project is like
being a detective. It is important that NC State students have the opportunity
to learn this in a great library."
The Harts chose to create a general collections endowment to give library
staff the greatest possible choice in addressing future challenges. Hart explains
that donations "should give the greatest possible flexibility to the
people who are running the library. Our endowment gives extensive leeway to
the people in charge of building the collections. When you are working with
a great group like the NCSU Libraries' staff, you let them use their expertise
to get what needs to be gotten. We both love books, and we both have such great
respect for the people at the library that we work with. It is a pleasure to
have an association with the library and with the Friends of the Library, and
a pleasure to give to support the library."
Frank Hart spent most of his professional career at North Carolina State University
(see Focus, vol. 19:3, page 15), as did Eleanor Hart. After attending
what is now Barton College, she worked with NC State's Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering, with the Agricultural Research Service in the College
of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and with the Department of Civil Engineering. "In
her work with the College of Engineering," Hart says, "Eleanor looked
after graduate students and, because of that, understands that a great university
library is crucial to student success." In conclusion, Hart adds, "The
library is the beacon of intellectual enlightenment on campus. It shines over
every library user, over the campus, and over the community. We hope it is
ever strong, vibrant, and improving."
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