A $3 million donation made to the Bodleian Libraries by Charles and George David was announced at the Bodleian Founders Lunch on Saturday.
The donation was made in memory of the David brothers’ late father, Charles Wendell David, a Rhodes scholar at Hertford College from 1908 to 1911.
The contribution brought the fund for the reconstruction of the New Bodleian closer to its £78 million target.
The New Bodleian is anticipated to reopen in 2015 as the Weston Library.
Architect Giles Gilbert Robertson’s plans to build the Weston Library are estimated to take 4-5 years. Construction will begin in August pending the University’s approval.
The Upper Floor ‘penthouse’ reading room will be named after Charles Wendell David to commemorate the donation.
The David brothers commented, “The Charles Wendell David Reading Room celebrates a life of scholarship, marked by our father having benefited from and provided opportunities to others.
“The lesson is the enduring and great power of education and the obligation on each of us – whether families, individuals, institutions or communities – to provide this freely and generously.”
David held the positions of Director of Libraries at the University of Pennsylvania and Executive Secretary of the Association of Research Libraries. His sons observed, “Access to books became his passion
“In his own words, “Bringing minds and books together” was a matter of faith”.
Bodley’s librarian, Dr Sarah Thomas commented: “I am profoundly moved by the tribute of George and Charles David to their father and the benefits to scholars this reading room will bring.”
The donation brings the Weston Library Appeal Fund to £67 million.
The Garfield Weston Foundation and Oxford University Press have each contributed £25 million to the project. Julian Blackwell, President of Blackwell’s bookshop, has donated £6 million.
The long-awaited renovation and restoration project aims to create high quality storage for the Library’s valuable Special Collections, to develop the Library’s faculties for the support of advanced research and to expand public access to its treasures through new exhibition galleries and other faculties.
The New Bodleian Library closed its doors to readers in September last year, after nearly 70 years of service.
The new library will be accessible from entrances on Broad Street and Parks Road.
