Letter from Dr. Dockery

The dream to have a great library facility on the Union campus has been one shared by trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends for many years. The beautiful facility described on the website will, we trust, be the fulfillment of the dreams and prayers of many through the years.

It has been said that the greatest university of all is the collection of books. Not only will this library provide for a great collection of books, but it will be a place that will offer the finest technological opportunities that characterize aspects of education in the 21st century. This magnificent building will be a place for learning, a place for enhancing community, and a place to help Union University carry forth its distinctive mission of reclaiming and advancing the Christian intellectual tradition.

The Union University Board of Trustees authorized this administration to work from the University's most recent strategic plan called "Renewing Minds: Union 2012," which called for Union to explore the addition of a new center of academic resources, what has traditionally been called a library. In light of that careful planning and with trust in God to provide for this amazing project, we are excited to announce this moment for faculty, staff, alumni, current students, and future students.

Union students will have opportunities in the days ahead unavailable to Unionites of previous generations. While students at this institution in days gone by have come to love books and found therein what Sir Francis Bacon once observed, "that old friends are best to trust and old books are best to read," Union students in coming years will have new and unprecedented doors of learning opened to them.

Union University has now been presented with an opportunity like few others in its long and wonderful history. In many ways this is a kairos moment in the life of this institution, a rare opportunity that we have been given through the generosity of a marvelous foundation.

This generous foundation has offered to match every dollar given or pledged through December 2012 up to $10 million. We want to encourage all of the friends of Union University to join with us in this amazing project.

At this important moment, we want to invite Union friends, donors, trustees, alumni - everyone within the Union constituency - to join us in the work of this beautiful facility. We are counting on many to partner with us at this time. Together, with God's help, we will build a magnificent library facility that will serve this institution and its friends and constituents with distinction for years and years to come.

Faithfully, David S. Dockery