"The Knowledge Commons and what it will do for student research is extremely important to Penn State," said Ann Tombros. In 2007 both women returned to the library as members of the Libraries Development Board and began to bring the Libraries' new initiatives to conversations over regularly scheduled bridge games the two couples have enjoyed together for many years.
Jeanette even worked in the library as a student employee while attending Penn State. Jeanette (Dachille) McWhirter and Ann (Cullen) Tombros are childhood friends who grew up in State College and like many local children-Penn State's library was a resource for their junior and senior high school projects. But even more unusual is the story of the evolving friendship. The gift is unique at Penn State in that it represents a joint gift from two couples. A media center offers a high-tech, hands-on approach for students and others learning to create digital media, recordings, and presentations in a professionally designed, collaborative learning facility.
A reading area expands students' interests and offers a place for needed relaxation time. The Knowledge Commons project will include a prominent consultation desk with interdisciplinary staff to assist students. The new Knowledge Commons facility we will meet the future needs of children just now entering kindergarten," said longtime Libraries Development Board member Sue Paterno, noting the new spaces give students both quiet traditional study areas as well as collaborative study spaces and availability of consultants who will assist with research or creation of academic multi-media productions. And the Tombros librarian, collections fund, and visiting scholar endowment will further strengthen the Libraries' collections in support of the Classics and Greek literature and help to recruit students and faculty to these areas of study." "This extraordinary joint gift by two deeply committed couples allows the University Libraries to create state-of-the-art information services required of a great library in the 21st century. Eaton, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications. "On behalf of Penn State University Libraries, I extend my thanks to the Tombroses and the McWhirters," said Nancy L. The new gift creates the Tombros Librarian for Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, the Tombros Libraries Collections Fund to Support Ancient Greek Studies, and the Tombros Visiting Scholars Endowment. In addition to the gift for the Knowledge Commons given jointly with the McWhirters, Ann and Peter Tombros have pledged an additional $1.4 million to enhance the Libraries' collections in the Classics and Greek literature. The Knowledge Commons, a major renovation of central and west Pattee Library, will accommodate and integrate new forms of information technologies. Key to this essential service is a technology-rich learning environment with flexible space, hardware and software, and expertise to nurture the intellectual development and creativity of students. The initiative to create the Knowledge Commons ushers in a new era of learning, teaching, and research in the library and will touch the lives of current and future students in all disciplines. McWhirter will support the new Knowledge Commons in the Pattee Library, part of Penn State University Libraries, and represents the largest gift in the Libraries' history. Tombroses and McWhirters Commit Million-dollar Gifts to the LibrariesĪ joint gift of $2.5 million by Ann and Peter G.
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