Van Pelt dedicates its four millionth book

Four million and counting. Van Pelt Library dedicated its four millionth book, and three others, at a ceremony in the library's Esther and Philip Klein Lounge last night. "While libraries are regarded in size, we can't have everything," Vice Provost and Director of Libraries Paul Mosher said. "But being selective is possible. We hope we have the four million best and most selective books in the country." The event, which also served as a rededication of the Klein Lounge, focused on the importance of books and libraries in modern society. "I'm rather stunned at this event," said Interim President Claire Fagin. "This event renews one's faith in the written word, that it's still so meaningful." Fagin offered her views on books, libraries and the excitement the freshman class exhibited in her Frankenstein seminar during the Freshman Reading Project. Her remarks concentrated on the importance of supporting Van Pelt and libraries in general. "What a library means to me," Fagin said, "is the losing of myself and the enhancement of myself and individuality." Several rare and unique books were presented to the library as part of the celebration. Joseph Glossberg, a member of the library's Board of Overseers, presented an early 15th century, three -volume novel by Jean de Gerson to Michael Ryan, director of Special Collections of Van Pelt, on behalf of the Overseers. "The importance of this novel lies in its selectivity," Ryan said. He said the selections, such as this work by the chancellor of the University of Paris, add to the luster of the entire library and to the University's existing collection of medieval works. Also presented was Let The Sea Make a Noise: A History of the North Pacific from Magellan to MacArthur. The book, written by Walter McDougall, director of the University's International Relations program, will join the library's collection of books by current faculty members, said Hyde. "While the Penn Bookstore sells 500 titles by Penn faculty," remarked Hyde, "there are many more unaccounted for." President Emeritus Martin Meyerson presented the final book. Jurgen and the Censors, he said, is a personal favorite and was originally a gift from his wife on his birthday. The book is appropriate considering what the University has gone through in the past year, he added. Meyerson ended the affair with a quote from Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, stating that "freedom for the thought we hate" is the core of the Constitution.

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