Through the combination of vaccine deployment and lower incidences of Covid-19, for the last six months or so, I’ve been on what I’m calling my “Thank You Tour.”
A collection of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners has enabled me to reconnect with friends of and donors to the University. These are individuals who have both made a material difference in the libraries’ and provided me with support and encouragement along the way. Many of them belong to volunteer groups, such as the University Libraries National Council and the Friends of the University of Rochester Libraries.
The original intention for these “final” meetings was, first and foremost, to thank people for how generously they gave their time, their advice, their advocacy and passion, and their financial support. But I also wanted to ensure that my successor is inheriting strong momentum, which is why my visits have included discussions about upcoming initiatives and aspirations for the future. At times, these conversations have been bittersweet and reminders of what I’m leaving as well as why I’ve done this for so long.
Getting to know the people of the library community has been one of the most joyous parts of my job. They possess a level of passion and engagement that I haven’t experienced anywhere else. Hearing our alumni discuss their Rochester experiences, especially those in the libraries—most often the iconic Rush Rhees Library—warms my soul. I can’t overstate how lovely it is to listen to someone speak so fondly of a place you work so hard to care for and improve. In too many ways to detail, these people are the lifeblood of the libraries, and to a certain extent, the success of the University as a whole.
It has been a genuine privilege to get to know Rochester’s alumni and friends of the libraries, and I will always be grateful for the relationships that I’ve formed with many of them. They are among the main reasons I can leave knowing the libraries are in good hands.
Although my “Thank You Tour" is formally ending December 1 (my last scheduled meeting), I fully expect to have more impromptu conversations via phone and email. I truly believe one cannot say “thank you” enough. So, one more time until the next time, thank you.
Mary Ann Mavrinac
Vice Provost and Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly Dean
University of Rochester Libraries
