You might think developing an entire law school’s collection from scratch would be a daunting task. But it just got easier for startup Indiana Tech Law School, in Fort Wayne, IN, which will welcome its first class in August 2013.
Dean Peter C. Alexander announced on December 5 that the school has received a donation of an entire library collection. It formerly belonged to a law school that was not able to earn American Bar Association accreditation, according to Alexander. (Indiana Tech is itself still in the process of seeking that accreditation.)
The donor, a businessperson who lives out of state, wishes to remain anonymous, but said, “We are happy that we were able to join with your school and help defer some of your library outlay. We wish you the greatest success.”
The exact volume count of the collection is unknown, as is its dollar value, but “there are so many books that they are currently being stored in eight tractor-trailers, and the microfiche collection has been stored in a large climate-controlled storage area,” said Alexander. “Everything is in very good condition.”
Administrators had budgeted $2 million to acquire a law library and $750,000 per year to maintain it, according to law.com.
The law school’s associate dean for library affairs, Phebe Poydras, said “This gift is wonderful, and it helps us get a significant start on building our library collection. We are very appreciative.” Poydras has already taken possession of the microfiche and expects that the books will be delivered to Fort Wayne next June.
There’s no rush, because the building which will house them—the 70,000-square-foot learning center which will also hold a legal clinic and functioning courtroom—is still under construction.
About Meredith Schwartz
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