Madigan Library Campaign
Dedication, September 12, 2006
REMARKS BY DR. ROBERT DUNHAM, CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
President Gilmour, Senator Madigan, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, -- thank you for joining us on this very special occasion.
Seven years ago I stood near here, on land, which had been miraculously transformed into lovely green space, and said, this is the land of promise:
- the promise of continued growth;
- the promise of new and state of the art facilities;
- the promise of new adventures in educational opportunities; and
- the promise of dedicated service to generations of Penn College students yet to come
Our beautiful campus has made Williamsport and Lycoming County an even more inviting place to study, to work, and to live. But, for many years, it has been a beautiful campus in need of a library.
Norman Cousins once said that
“The library is not a shrine for the worship of books. It is not a temple where literary incense must be burned or where one's devotion to the bound book is expressed in ritual. A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas - a place where history comes to life.”
To me, a library is the very soul of a college and a workplace for students, faculty, and townspeople. And today we dedicate this handsome building, recognize those who were instrumental in bringing it to fruition, and take pride in our accomplishment.
This library project was launched by the generous gift of $7 million from the Commonwealth. Thank you Rep. Feese for your important role in that gift.
This library came in on budget and ahead of schedule. Thank you Secretary Creedon and the Department of General Services for your willingness to delegate the project management role to Penn College. And thanks also to our expert project management team led by Bill Martin.
The library staff spent countless hours in planning for this facility and for going the extra mile to see that the move was successful. Thanks to the library staff led by Lisette Ormsbee.
It took many generous gifts from townspeople, faculty, staff, students and corporations to supplement the gift from the Commonwealth. These gifts came at the right time and demonstrate a strong commitment to the library and to Penn College. Thanks to Barry Stiger and his staff and to the Capital Campaign Committee for their hard work and dedication to this worthy goal.
The design of this building and the careful work of the architect to fit it into the campus surroundings could not have been better. Thanks to the Martin Murray firm and especially Benedict Dubbs.
If you walked around this project during its progress you would have noticed a clean and safe environment. Thanks to the general contractor Lobar and sub-contractors for their thorough, careful and coordinated work.
As we dedicate this building as a landmark for the college and the community, we also need to rededicate ourselves.
- Students need to take full advantage of the learning opportunities here and become all they can be.
- Faculty need to continue to improve the academic quality and provide outstanding learning opportunities.
- Townspeople need to reflect on the importance of this college to this community and continue to support its future endeavors.
- The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania needs to recognize that this unique college provides exactly what the state needs and to increase its support.
President Gilmour, thanks to your excellent leadership, we have seen this dream come true. The Roger and Peggy Madigan Library is a reality. What a remarkable 8 years we have had under your presidency. This college has been transformed. But the best is yet to come as we all dedicate ourselves to making Penn College the finest technical college in the country.