University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, April 4, 1990
11
Celebrities help KU libraries
Bv Pam Sollner
Kansan staff writer
Elizabeth Taylor, David Letterman, Chris Evert and other celebrities are coming to the rescue of KU's library budget crunch.
Taylor is donating a personalized tote bag. Letterman autographed a
"Late Night with David Letterman" show for the occasion. And Evert is throwing in an autographed tennis racket cover.
That's just a sample of the David Letterman
more than 80 donated items to be auctioned off at the KU Friends of the Library Celebrity Auction.
The auction, which is part of the Campaign Kansas fund-raising drive, will be at 1 p.m. April 22 at the Kansas Union Ballroom.
Campaign Kansas is the University's five-year, $177 million fund-raising drive.
Clyde Toland, president of Friends of the Library, said the group was concerned about the financial problems of the University's libraries. Having could result in the elimination of several periodicals and new books.
"When you have needs like that, we're trying to do what we can to fill in the gap," Toland said.
Toland said he could not estimate how much money the auction would raise.
"We're selling unusual commodities, so you can't judge how much you'll get," he said.
James Helyar, executive secretary of the group, knows the libraries'
Elizabeth Taylor Chris Evert
situation all too well. He is a curator in graphics at the Spencer Research Library.
"The potential for cutbacks is catastrophic," he said. "Imagine the cancellation of 1,500 periodicals that are important to one study or
Jim Ranz, dean of libraries, said the libraries' top priority was for acquitions.
"There has been a continuing erosion of acquiesitions," he said. "There's no place left to cut. We're in danger, and we have been for years."
Ranz said book and periodical prices had risen 10 percent annually for the past 10 years, but library
financing in the Kansas Legislature had continually decreased. Science books and periodicals are appreciating at a faster rate.
Since fiscal 1985, the libraries' book purchasing power has declined 16 percent, or the equivalent of 7,600 fewer books each year. Purchasing power has declined 9 percent, resulting in the consolidation of 1,500 periodicals.
Ranz said $385,000 would be needed this year to maintain the libraries' present level of acquisitions.
Clark Coan, chairman of the auction committee, said letters had been sent to hundreds of celebrities. The committee has received about 80 items, 10 more than its goal. More items are arriving each week.
The money raised from the auction will be deposited into an account at the University of Kansas Endowment Association, Coan said. When any division of KU's libraries requests money, the executive board of the Friends of the Library will vote about whether to give the donation.
Coan said the auction would be the first public fund raising the group had conducted. The group usually gives money to the libraries from donations and membership dues.
KU Friends of the Library, which was established in 1972, has more than 100 members. Membership is predominately from the University community and Lawrence residents, although anyone can be a member.
Ancient painting stolen in Jordan
The Associated Press
AMMAN, Jordan — A 1,300-year-old mosaic floor painting was stolen from an ancient castle, apparently by professionals who cut the 270-square-foot block into small pieces and fled without a trace, officials said yesterday.
The colorful mosaic depicts a large tree surrounded by animals. It was lifted off a floor of the castle.
The minister of tourism, Abdul Karim Kabariti, said the mosaic, depicting a tree of life, was "priceless." He said the theft occurred Sunday at the Hallabat Castle, a popular tourist attraction in the northeastern desert.
A police expert, who cannot be identified under police regulations, said it would have "taken at least four
people to do the job."
"It appears to be a highly professional job," the minister said. "They have left no traces whatsoever, not even tire tracks on the desert road."
"It involved applying a strong liquid glue on the surface of the mosaic, covering it with jute cloth and lifting the entire thing at one time off the floor," the expert said.
Kabariiti said all exit points of the kingdom, including airports and sea ports. were alerted.
Adnan Hadidi, former director of the Department of Antiquities, said it appeared that the mosaic was cut into small blocks after it was lifted off the floor.
Authorities said there would be a reward for information leading to the recovery of the mosaic, but the amount is unknown.
Kabariiti said the work dated back to the 8th century rule of the Ummayads, an Arab dynasty based in Damascus, Syria.
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