Albert S. Cook Library

A key resource at the heart of every student’s educational experience at TU, continually innovating to support academic inquiry across the University.

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Your support for the Albert S. Cook Library will fund initiatives that maintain our unique collections and enhance the services we provide for more than 700,000 student visits each year. Collaborative, interdisciplinary and student-centered, the library’s team is constantly innovating to provide students with 24/7 access to the information and research support they need and to foster data literacy for lifelong learning.

For more information about opportunities to support the Albert S. Cook Library and the priorities below, contact Joyce Garczynski, Assistant University Librarian for Development & Communication at jgarczynski@towson.edu.

Giving Opportunities

The Academic Commons @ Cook Library

Cook Library

The Academic Commons @ Cook Library

Housing the Writing Center, Mathematics Tutoring, general tutoring services, and flex space for support like “pop-up” career services, UG research, etc. in Cook Library, this newly envisioned space brings these student support services together in one location. Co-located in a highly visible space, students will no longer have to travel to a variety of locations around campus for academic help. This bright and comfortable space sets the tone for the exciting and collaborative work that will take place there. Key to retaining and moving students forward to graduation, this space makes scholarships work!

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Textbook and E-Textbook Resources

Textbook and E-Textbook Resources

Textbook access and virtual learning affordability impacts student outcomes and graduation rates. Funding will make alternatives to textbooks and a repository of textbooks accessible for all students.

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A-LIST Program

A-LIST Program

The Albert S. Cook Library Leadership Institute for Students (A-LIST) Program provides outstanding TU students with leadership training, mentoring, and project management experience. Support for this program offers three students, selected for this year-long program, the opportunity to develop library initiatives that have a lasting impact on the library, the university, and the community.

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Special Collections Expansion Project

Special Collections Expansion Project

TU’s Special Collections & University Archives has outgrown its current space. An expansion and move to the lower level of the Library will provide additional space, offer a special preservation area and allow for additional special collections in need of preservation.

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Diversity in Academic Literature Fund

When students see their identities reflected in the books they read, it can spark their love of learning. With support, TU’s research resources will reflect our diversity so that all students, both at TU and those taught by a TU-trained teacher, can see themselves represented in what they are learning.

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MakerSpace/MakerSpace to Go

MakerSpace/MakerSpace to Go

Support will enable the library to lend students maker kits they can use to create and build. These kits include materials like 3D printing pens, tool kits, sewing kits, and electronics kits such as Arduinos, Raspberry Pi, and TI LaunchPads, and more.

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Children’s Literature Lab

Children’s Literature Lab

This space will offer current and future teachers the opportunity to create and practice lesson plans that incorporate materials from our exemplar children’s collection. The lab will be enhanced with a Family Study Space, a dedicated area for TU students with children where they can study and have access to our collection. Because children’s literature continues to evolve, a Youth Literature Speaker Series will enable the TU community to stay on the cutting edge of publishing in this genre by hearing from new authors who can provide inspiration for how to incorporate their works into the curriculum.

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Digital Scholarship Center: An expansion of existing Data Studio

Person introducing another person in the library

Digital Scholarship Center: An expansion of existing Data Studio

Transforming the Data Studio into a Digital Scholarship Center will integrate data and mapping into both teaching and research, as well as provide opportunities to learn best practices in digitization, data visualization, and offer access to virtual/augmented reality stations, equipping our graduates to obtain jobs using 21st century skills.

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Creativity Incubator Gallery/Performance and Event Space

Offering cultural events, in a dedicated space, brings the community together to explore topics like literature and diversity. Author talks springboard into larger global issues and spark transformation in our communities. A larger and more flexible space will bring students and community together, to explore meaningful topics.

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Virtual Learning and Streaming Media

Virtual Learning and Streaming Media

Present day e-learning and a greater reliance on visual media in today’s curricula mean online resources are more important than ever for our students. Support for these educational needs transcends the pandemic.

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Special Collections Endowed Chair/Dept. Head

Special Collections Endowed Chair/Dept. Head

As keepers of history and our legacy as an institution, endowing this position ensures continued preservation and access to the rare, one-of-a-kind materials that make up five different collecting areas: Jewish Studies, History of the University, Performing Arts, History of Education in Maryland and World War II.

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Stories that Inspire

“The A-List is really like a family. The community and mentorship from A-list is what got me through school. I felt like I had value—putting passion into things I cared about. I have my job at Howard County Library directly because of being an A-List.”

Ash Baker ’19

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COOKIES & PRIVACY

Albert S. Cook Library

Giving Opportunities

The Academic Commons @ Cook Library

Textbook and E-Textbook Resources

A-LIST Program

Special Collections Expansion Project

Diversity in Academic Literature Fund

MakerSpace/MakerSpace to Go

Children’s Literature Lab

Digital Scholarship Center: An expansion of existing Data Studio

Creativity Incubator Gallery/Performance and Event Space

Virtual Learning and Streaming Media

Special Collections Endowed Chair/Dept. Head

Stories that Inspire

“The A-List is really like a family. The community and mentorship from A-list is what got me through school. I felt like I had value—putting passion into things I cared about. I have my job at Howard County Library directly because of being an A-List.”