About the Friends of the Library

Who are the Friends of the Van Pelt Library?

Why does MTU's Van Pelt Library need Friends?

What do the Friends do?

What can I do?

What if I do not have time to be a Friend volunteer?

How do I join?

  Who are the Friends of the Van Pelt Library?

The FVPL is a group of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members who understand that the J. Robert Van Pelt Library is Michigan Technological University's most important resource. We are united in our determination to enrich the Library and to help it to serve the University and the community.

  Why does MTU's Van Pelt Library need Friends?

The intellectual life of a university revolves around its library. The Van Pelt Library of Michigan Technological University serves a dynamic student body, and active research and teaching faculty, and a vibrant local community. The Library is charged with providing access to information in whatever forms required to whoever needs it. Fulfilling these goals in these rapidly changing times is a great challenge which can only be met by the dedicated service of the Library's staff and friends. The goal of the Friends of the Van Pelt Library is to bring about the continuous improvement of the Van Pelt Library to the benefit of all of the Library's clients.

  What do the Friends do?

There are many ways in which Library Friends can contribute to the growth and development of the Library. In addition to fundraising projects, the Friends will sponsor cultural activities and the mounting of informational displays. Friends will work on public outreach projects to strengthen Library-community ties. Some of the specific projects proposed for the FVPL include:

• Organize book talks and other events to promote a sense of Library community
• Organize the Van Pelts Library's Sometimes Annual Book Sale, a pseudo-annual event in which the Library sells outdated or donated texts; all revenues benefit the Van Pelt Library
• Conduct user surveys to help the Library better serve its clients
• Promote use of the Library's unique resources such as the government documents collection and the Copper Country Historical Collection
• Conduct fund raising programs which help to generate resources for the Library

  What can I do?

Join the Friends! We are a new organization, and we have room for you in many capacities. Membership in the Friends is bestowed annually on those who support the Van Pelt Library through financial gifts to the Friends organization. There are many levels of participation:

 

 

Student	$10
Senior Citizen	$10
Individual	$15
Family	$25
Patron	$50
Benefactor	$100
Book Sponsor	$250
Corporate	$1000

All Friends receive the FVPL newsletter and are welcomed on special Friends Library tours and at Library orientation seminars. Friends in every category are voting members of the Friends of the Van Pelt Library, and all Friends are encouraged to serve on committees and to actively participate in Friends activities.
 

Friends at the Book Sponsor level receive the additional benefit of having their name affixed to a book plate on a new book in the Library collection. The topic of the book may be designated by the Book Sponsor.

  What if I do not have time to be a Friend volunteer?

You are still welcome in the Friends of the Van Pelt Library. We recognize that some Friends may not be able to dedicate time to our activities due to geographical separation or ther commitments, but the support both symbolic and financial of all our Friends contributes to the health of our organization.

  How do I join?

To join the Friends of the Van Pelt Library, please send your contribution to:

Friends of the Van Pelt Library
c/o the Michigan Tech Fund
Michigan Technological University
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931

Please make all checks payable to the Michigan Tech Fund-FVPL.

 

You may also join using a credit card by sending an email to the Secretary, Faith Morrison (fmorriso@mtu.edu).  Please include your full name, credit card number, expiration date, and the amount of your contribution.

 

 All contributions to the FVPL are Federal tax deductible. Michigan residents benefit in addition from the Michigan Tax Credit. The State of Michigan allows a portion of contributions made directly to Michigan universities to be credited against state income tax. The allowable credit is 50% of the gift, but may not exceed $200 for a joint return and $100 for a single return. For more information, please write to:

 
Friends of the Van Pelt Library
J. Robert Van Pelt Library
Michigan Technological University
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI  49931