Friends of the NIU Libraries discussed a multitude of subjects including Patrick Dawson, NIU’s new Dean of Libraries, when the group hosted their annual meeting and ice cream social in Founder’s Memorial Library last Thursday.

“Were very pleased to have him,” said Jerry Zar, President of Friends of the NIU Libraries, of Dawson. “He will contribute his expertise to the NIU libraries.”

As members of Friends of the NIU Libraries trickled into the meeting, scenes from “The Godfather” were reminiscent, as everyone paid their respects to, and politely chatted up Dawson before all else.

Dawson, who came to NIU from University of California-Santa Barbara, began his term as dean on July 1. He is replacing the retiring Byron Anderson, who claims he will be staying on with Friends of NIU Libraries “indefinitely.”

“What he [Dawson] can provide is some of his ideas from other universities he’s been at,” Zar said. “[He has] some untraditional ideas, and not just ours.”

Also discussed at the meeting was the annual treasurer’s report documenting the financial spending of the group. For the FY 2008, the endowment account was $10,257.82, with $722.00 being spent thus far, with $500 of that money being spent on catering.

According to their Web site, the “The Friends secure gifts and bequests and provide funds for the purchase of books, manuscripts, and other materials” for the NIU Libraries.

In the 2007-2008 school year, The Friends purchased nearly $5,000 in rare books and volumes, including The Manuscripts of Chretien de Troyes, Celestial Navigation by Karen Hammer, and a cuneiform tablet, also known as one of the first methods of recording the written word. Another $5,000 is currently in Southeast Asia for literary purchases.

The expendable allocation for FY 2009 will double to $21,920.59, with the overall endowment principal being $378,744.42.

Along with finances, upcoming events were also a major talking point at the meeting. Future events sponsored by The Friends include the Harry Potter-influenced Muggle Ball on Halloween, along with an evening with NPR radio host, Peter Sagal. According to The Friend’s finance report, Sagal’s fee for appearing is $8,000.

Elections were also held for positions within the group, with all positions being voted on unanimously.

Zar looks at the new partnership between Dawson and The Friends of the NIU Libraries to continue the success the group has maintained for 25 years, and to ride the momentum into the fall semester.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Zar said.