Dear Friends,
It's that time of year again! I hope that 2019 was a happy, healthy, and productive year for each of you. Can you believe that we are rounding the corner on a new decade?
As I reflect on this past year, the first thing that comes to mind was the tremendous loss that the university experienced in the passing of former president, Dr. William DeLauder. I am sure that this holiday season will be difficult for his family, and I wish them to know that they are in my thoughts. I was honored to have met Dr. DeLauder several years ago, and I am eternally grateful for his donation to the archives. Included in his donation were some Board of Trustee minutes that are highly valued.
The second thing that comes to mind is the outstanding progress that has been made in the digital realm. Amazingly, 113 volumes of yearbooks and course catalogs have been digitized in 2019 and we're not done yet! In the next few days before the holiday you can expect to see several more catalogs hit the web.
The number of reference interactions in 2019 was up by 23% from last year! This is a significant increase, and I am so delighted to have met so many new faces. Our constituents continue to be representative of a diverse population. This year's patrons included individuals from Dartmouth College, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Delaware Historical Society, University of Colorado, University of Maryland, New Jersey State Library, Phoenicia Public Library, and of course all of my favorite alumni, administrators, and students. It is my pleasure to serve you.
What will next year hold for the archives? For starters, it will be a new year under a new president. When we return to campus on January 6th we will welcome Dr. Tony Allen as our fearless leader. Second, I am looking forward to using my organizational skills on behalf of the university for a very exciting and vital committee assignment. Third, I hope to continue to expand the digitized collections by moving on to the Board of Trustee minutes. Whatever happens in 2020 I hope that you will continue to join me on this journey.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and desire all the best for you in the new year.
Cheers,
Joy
