Director's Bequest to Benefit Lockwood Library Underscores Need For Library Support

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Amherst resident Judith Adams, director of the University at Buffalo Lockwood Library, has made a bequest to the library, one of the largest monetary gifts to the University Libraries ever received from a library staff member.

Adams said she made the gift both to help the library and at the same time to thank the university for allowing her to expand her professional opportunities.

"The university has been very good to me and I have a strong commitment to making Lockwood a fine and attractive library for the university community," said Adams, who recently was named president of the SUNY Librarians Association.

Although Adams has made numerous gifts to the library throughout her tenure as director, the recent bequest is her largest and one that will have a lasting impact.

"This support will help make a difference in the library for many years after I'm gone," she said. Improvements are needed to bring the library's interior environment up-to-date, to benefit the university community and the public who use the library's resources and services.

"It makes me feel good that my gift may be used toward augmenting both the library's resources and its furnishings," said Adams. She said she hopes her gift will demonstrate to others the need for private support for UB's libraries.

"Libraries are now faced with an economic environment that is particularly challenging because of the increasing cost of print materials, which is still the preference of most users of the library, and the demand of our information age for worldwide computerized information resources.

"Given the state budget," she added, "our libraries have a strong need for private gifts from individuals in order to meet these demands."

Before coming to UB, Adams worked at Lehigh University as senior reference librarian, at the Library of Congress as a reference librarian, and at Oklahoma State and Auburn universities as head of humanities in the libraries. She is a member of the American Libraries Association, Library Administration and Management Association, and Society for the History of Technology.

She received a bachelor's degree in English from Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; a master's degree in library science from Syracuse University, and a master's degree in English from Lehigh.

She is the author of a number of articles in books and referred journals on the subject of technology and culture. She also has written three books, including the widely regarded "The American Amusement Park Industry: A History of Technology and Thrills," which explores the relationship between technology, culture and American self-definition. The book also has been published in Japanese.

For information on how you can help support the University at Buffalo, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/giving