About the Friends of the LibrariesIn all of the outstanding universities--and for the libraries that provide the foundations of their intellectual vitality--the difference between adequacy and excellence lies in resources that have been added by private donors. By joining the Friends of the Libraries, you will provide the vital margin that all great libraries have: funds with which to acquire important research collections, new collections, and information technologies. Investments in collections and information technologies are essential to preserve the records of past scholarship, and to guarantee the availability of these materials for future generations of scholars. Our ultimate goal is to enhance learning and the discovery of new knowledge. Your annual membership will enable the Libraries to achieve this. All University of Minnesota students and faculty will benefit from your support, as will people throughout Minnesota who rely on the Libraries for information. The University of Minnesota Libraries serves as the state's major research library. It lends more than 200,000 items each year to other libraries in Minnesota and across the United States and serves thousands of people who are unaffiliated with the University. On a typical day, more than 11,000 individuals use the Twin Cities campus libraries. Libraries staff answer approximately 3,300 requests for information each day, while thousands of students sign up for library tours or orientation sessions throughout the year. Friends of the Libraries are advocates for advancing the University Libraries and for strengthening it as the vital center in scholarly life at the University of Minnesota. Friends of the Libraries have an enthusiasm for books and learning as well as an appreciation for the Libraries importance to the Unversity. Friends support the Libraries:
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