University of Houston Libraries has received a gift of $75,000 from the John P. McGovern Foundation, designated for updates to research and learning spaces.

In its ongoing evaluation of critical infrastructure, spaces, and services for the campus community, UH Libraries identified opportunities for enhancements to high-impact areas in MD Anderson Library. The McGovern Foundation gift will allow UH Libraries to begin better alignment of research and learning spaces, including computing, study, and consultation areas, with the dynamic needs of students, faculty, and researchers. Upgrades, including furnishings, technology, and other resources, will reflect the research and learning lifecycle of the University and facilitate connection between scholarly and public communities.

Departments within UH Libraries were recently restructured to advance the University’s Strategic Plan. A new Libraries unit, Research and Student Engagement (RASE), comprises Information and Access Services, Research Services, and Teaching and Learning, three departments with high public engagement. The priorities of this unit are connected to the University’s initiatives toward student success, nationally competitive research, and social responsibility. Physical space improvements related to the services and resources of this unit will support the University’s key initiatives. “The generosity of the McGovern Foundation advances the Libraries’ innovative teaching and research practices, connecting UH students, faculty, and staff with the resources and expertise needed to be successful in the classroom, in scholarship, and beyond,” said Santi Thompson, associate dean of Research and Student Engagement.

“This generous gift from the McGovern Foundation allows us to enhance the core and collaborative services we offer to the UH community and complements campus-wide services in direct ways,” said Athena Jackson, dean of UH Libraries and Elizabeth D. Rockwell chair. “UH Libraries remains focused on engaging and empowering those who visit our spaces and e-spaces, with the goal of inspiring knowledge-sharing partnerships among research and learning communities in the heart of the University.”