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\u201cNo act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.\u201d \u2014 Aesop<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Morris Library received 53 acts of kindness last March during SIU\u2019s 3rd annual Day of Giving.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had gifts of all sizes, and we appreciated each and every one of them,\u201d said Dean John Pollitz.<\/p>\n
The total of those gifts amounted to $17,865, a steady increase in giving to the library since the university started the 24-hour online campaign in 2017. During that first year, the library received $4,000. Pollitz hopes the donations continue to rise as the event progresses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe SIU Day of Giving is an extraordinary event as it draws alumni, staff and students together for a unifying cause,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not sure how we are going to top last year, but I\u2019m sure hoping we can do it again this coming March.\u201d<\/p>\n
The increase in donations allowed for the purchase of a scanning machine that is drastically changing the way students and professors approach their research \u2013 free of charge.<\/p>\n
With the Day of Giving funds, Morris Library purchased the Knowledge Imaging Center Bookeye 4 system. Associate Professor of Reference and Instruction Josh Vossler said the versatile system makes digital scanning and organizing research very simple, while also being easy on original materials. Documents and books are placed face-up, and an overhead digital scanner takes a picture. It adjusts automatically for the natural curve of bound books so users won\u2019t have to crush the spine of a book to get the full image.<\/p>\n
\u201cA typical scanner takes 40 seconds to scan one page. This machine can scan in 3.5 seconds per page,\u201d Vossler said. \u201cIt\u2019s a game changer as far as time goes. This will save students and community members thousands of hours each year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Using the touch screen, users can edit and convert the image into a variety of formats. More importantly, the system identifies all of the scanned characters and allows the image to become searchable.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother benefit is that it is compatible with accessibility software features,\u201d said Vossler. \u201cThere are so many positives that this machine brings. We are beyond grateful to the donors who helped us purchase this station.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pollitz thanks all of the donors who made this acquisition a reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what can be accomplished through collaboration and a giving heart. I believe this new system will help our students and faculty become more productive than ever before possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
How to Give to Morris Library<\/strong><\/p>\n
If you would like to help maintain Morris Library as one of the top 100 research libraries in the nation, please visit siuf.org<\/a> and make a gift today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cNo act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.\u201d \u2014 Aesop Morris Library received 53 acts of kindness last March during SIU\u2019s 3rd annual Day of Giving. \u201cWe had gifts of all sizes, and we appreciated each and every one of them,\u201d said Dean John Pollitz. The total of those gifts amounted to … Continue reading 150 Stories of Philanthropy: SIU Day of Giving Makes Library\u2019s Digital Scanner Dream Come True<\/span>