Funds and Endowments

Our funds and endowments offer ways for donors to direct their gifts to specific purposes. Several were established as legacy gifts by library supporters and have been added to by their families, friends and others with similar interests. We welcome gifts to any of these funds. Please browse the list below to identify an area you wish to support or contact the Library Director to discuss current library priorities. These funds play an important role in creating a stable financial base for the library’s future.

Funds and Endowments List

Joyner Library Priority Fund

This fund gives library leadership the ability to quickly respond to emerging issues and student, faculty and staff needs. For example, recent gifts to the priority fund support library textbook affordability programs, library faculty who supervise ECU students completing internships, improvements to library spaces, technology purchases, public programs, and student and employee awards. You may designate your gift to the Joyner Library Priority Fund with a focused intent or as an unrestricted gift to be used for the library’s priorities

Friends of Joyner Library Endowment

The Friends of Joyner Library fosters the role of Joyner Library as a university and community resource. Earnings from the endowment corpus are deposited annually into the Friends of Joyner Library operating budget and used for collection development, student outreach and engagement, staff support, student and faculty recognitions, and special programs.

Michael F. Bassman Honors College Research Award Endowment

This fund recognizes the academic research accomplishments of students in the Honors College who exemplify the ideals of strong character and a commitment to the importance of research in personal academic achievement.

John and Ann Laliotes Endowment

This fund is used for planning, implementing, and other needs for programs, exhibits, and events throughout Joyner Library.

Donald R. Lennon University Archives Endowment

University Archives actively collects, preserves, and makes available the official records of East Carolina University, the papers of ECU faculty and organizations, and material reflecting student life throughout the university’s history. Named in honor of the former Director of the East Carolina Manuscript Collection who played a key role in establishing the University Archives, this endowment supports all aspects of University Archives.

Naval History Endowment

Supports acquisition and preservation of naval and maritime history materials.

Bodo Nischan Manuscript Endowment

Established in 2002 by Mrs. Gerda Nischan in memory of her husband Professor Bodo Nischan, this endowment supports the purchase of materials for the Manuscript Collection.

Preservation and Conservation Fund

This fund provides equipment, tools, materials, and funds to hire student employees to ensure that library collections are available for the education and scholarship of present and future generations of the Pirate Nation.

Ronnie Barnes African-American Resource Center Endowment

This endowment was established in 2002 by ECU alumnus Ronnie Barnes to collect materials about the legacy and future of African-Americans in eastern North Carolina and the southeast.

Ann Rhem Schwarzmann Teaching Resources Center Endowed Fund

This fund is used to support and maintain the Schwarzmann Production Room in the Teaching Resources Center, purchase materials for the TRC, support workshops and professional development, and fund student employees.

SHRA Scholarship Fund

Established in 2000, this fund provides scholarships for Joyner Library SHRA employees pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in any discipline.

Michael and Alice Taylor Endowment

This fund is used primarily to purchase family history materials and to enhance other portions of the North Carolina Collection. It can also be used to support the mission of the Friends of the Library.

Minnie Marguerite Wiggins Endowment

This endowment is used for purchasing materials for the North Carolina Collection.