NCSU Libraries Focus Online

Volume 23 number 1 - Fall 2002

By Tracy Proctor, Library Development

Most couples who support the NCSU Libraries create endowments or incubator endowments in their joint names or in honor or memory of a parent, friend, or colleague. The Stoskopfs took a unique approach. Michael Stoskopf and Suzanne Kennedy-Stoskopf, both doctors of veterinary medicine at NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine, each established an incubator account in the other's name to honor each other's contributions to their fields of study as well as their commitment to the Libraries.

The two met on Plum Island, the United States Department of Agriculture's super-secure site for the study of infectious animal diseases, and then came to NC State from Johns Hopkins University. They were delighted to discover that NC State's Veterinary Medical Library was better in their areas of specialty than the library at Johns Hopkins. Both have a deep love for libraries and jokingly call their house a library.

Kennedy-Stoskopf always thinks about a piece of advice given to her by the father of a childhood friend who was a university professor. She remembers

"When we were looking at potential colleges, he advised us to always look at the library because a library indicates the commitment a university has to its students."

As Stoskopf explains, "we support the NCSU Libraries because it is excellent and has clearly made a commitment to NC State students."

Their relationship with the library grew when Stoskopf served on the University Library Committee (ULC), which he eventually chaired. He chose the ULC because,

"I wanted to be a part of a committee that actually made decisions. Susan Nutter [vice provost and director of Libraries] allows the committee to make decisions about significant issues, and the library always responded rapidly and effectively to the committee's recommendations."

Because of his work in behalf of the library, Stoskopf was selected as the NCSU Libraries Faculty Award winner in 1996.

In 2000 the ULC launched a Faculty and Staff Campaign for the Libraries and promoted the Incubator Endowment to faculty. Stoskopf explains, "I believe faculty should want to support the university in every way. Incubator endowments make it feasible for the less-than-wealthy to make a gift that can make an impact."

He decided to establish an incubator in honor of his wife. She thought it was a "wonderful idea" and established one in his name. The Michael Stoskopf Library Endowment supports collections in the area of aquatic wildlife health, while the Suzanne Kennedy-Stoskopf Library Endowment supports collections in the area of terrestrial wildlife health. Stoskopf states,

"The library is the engine that drives intellectual activity at the university. Even with changing forms of information, the library is the foundation for people to develop intellectual products. We are proud of the library and how effective it has been with limited resources."