Giving Back: Richard I. Lauf

To Richard I. Lauf, chair of the University of Cincinnati Libraries’ Campaign Leadership Committee, it is as simple as, “You can’t have a good teaching university without a good research library.” That comment helps to explain Lauf’s passion for the UC Libraries and his motivation for heading the Libraries’ campaign as part of “Proudly Cincinnati: The Campaign for the University of Cincinnati,” which was launched in 2005. “We need to make the connection between strong research, strong teaching, and a strong library,” he said. “I think the UC Campaign overall is what it’s going to take for UC to be at the forefront in the next decade.”

The UC Libraries have served as a professional resource to Lauf when he was in management at Procter & Gamble, through his classes at UC, and while earning his Ph.D. at the Union Institute & University. Now the Libraries’ vast and noteworthy collections support his continuing interests that run the gamut from consulting work in the medical field to literature, classics, and opera. He and his wife, Susan, share their interest in UC and the UC Libraries, saying, “We are always down at UC since we view it as a central part of Cincinnati.”

“I feel I owe the Libraries something,” he explained. “The Libraries have great depth in their collections in a huge number of areas because UC is an in-depth research institution. Plus, there is always something of interest for my hobbies. The Archives and Rare Books Library is an absolute treasure trove of historical and cultural interest.”

Lauf became involved in the Libraries more than a decade ago after he made his first contribution and attended the Libraries’ annual “Authors, Editors and Composers” event that honors faculty publishing. “This is such a nice event because the scholars and researchers count on the Libraries for their work. At the same time, they are adding to the scholarship pool since their books and journal articles go back into the Libraries’ collections,” he said.

He became involved in the Friends of the Libraries organization, which has since evolved into a major donor effort undertaken by the Libraries Campaign Leadership Committee, composed of seven community representatives, two library faculty members, Dean and University Librarian Victoria A. Montavon, and Director of Development Margaret W. Wolf.

Mr. and Mrs. Lauf have found their charitable giving niche at the UC Libraries. Their most recent gifts have supported the cataloging and processing of unique collections, including those of Thomas Schippers, the late internationally prominent conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Prof. Robert E. Cazden, a notable German-American scholar. “We supported cataloging to leverage the donations of these marvelous collections and to bring them out into the Libraries’ online catalog so that people can find them,” Lauf said.

For Richard Lauf, giving back to the Libraries that have supported him in so many ways is simply a natural thing to do.

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The Proudly Cincinnati Campaign continues at the University of Cincinnati with efforts underway to fund several library priorities, including the completion of the Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions, additional improvements in the new Albino Gorno Memorial Music (CCM) Library, upcoming renovations for a the John Miller Burnam Classical Library, and collection development needs in key disciplines.

To learn more about giving opportunities for UC Libraries or to make a donation, please use the donation envelope in this issue of Source or contact Margaret W. Wolf, Director of Development, at (513) 556-0055 or peggy.wolf@uc.edu. Online gifts may be made using the UC Foundation Web Site.

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