2008 Woodie Awards
Clifford Symposium unveils new library
Viraj Assar
Issue date: 10/21/04 Section: Features
Although the library opened its doors to the College community in mid-summer, the formal dedication ceremony was scheduled nearly a month into fall term, Oct. 8, to coincide with the inauguration of President Ronald D. Liebowitz. The combination of the building's dedication and the conclusion of Middlebury's transition to a new presidential administration was exemplified by Dr. Vartan Gregorian, a librarian and former college president, as well as one of the cermony's key note speakers. Beginning in 1981, Dr. Gregorian held the presidencies of the New York Public Library followed by Brown University. An eminent historian and author, he is now President of the grant-making Carnegie Corporation of New York.
The robed scholar addressed his audience at length, recalling the origins of Western intellectualism in ancient Greece and the cuneiform tablets of Mesopotamia. He noted Alexander's founding of his Museum at Alexandria in 300 BC, where Ptolemy later worked to collect copies of all books in existence - all worldly knowledge - for the sake of greater learning. Then, returning to the present moment, Gregorian told the congregation, "What you have done here today - miracle of miracles - you have built a library of Alexandria."
His speech reflected his long life of philosophy, in the word's literal sense. He quoted from a broad group of writers and thinkers, including Emerson, Borges, Milton and Orwell, and praised the roles of libraries, books and the learning they facilitate in the realms of society and human existence itself.
"The library, in my opinion, is the only tolerant historical institution," he said. "For it's a mirror of our society - the record of mankind. It is an institution in which the left and the right, the Devil and God, human achievements, human endeavors and human failures all are retained and classified, in order to teach mankind what not to repeat and what to emulate."
Prior to the ceremony, Fulton Professor of American Literature and Civilization and Co-Faculty Head of Atwater Commons ceremonial marshall Stephen Donadio commented, "Everyone will tell you that this is an important occasion, and there's really no occasion more important than the dedication of a new library." Gregorian's message echoed this sentiment tenfold. "Cemeteries do not provide earthly immortality to men and women. Libraries, and museums and universities do. Even clergy cannot promise you immortality; they can pray that God provide you immortality. But, librarians can promise you immortality, and deliver it," he said.
The robed scholar addressed his audience at length, recalling the origins of Western intellectualism in ancient Greece and the cuneiform tablets of Mesopotamia. He noted Alexander's founding of his Museum at Alexandria in 300 BC, where Ptolemy later worked to collect copies of all books in existence - all worldly knowledge - for the sake of greater learning. Then, returning to the present moment, Gregorian told the congregation, "What you have done here today - miracle of miracles - you have built a library of Alexandria."
His speech reflected his long life of philosophy, in the word's literal sense. He quoted from a broad group of writers and thinkers, including Emerson, Borges, Milton and Orwell, and praised the roles of libraries, books and the learning they facilitate in the realms of society and human existence itself.
"The library, in my opinion, is the only tolerant historical institution," he said. "For it's a mirror of our society - the record of mankind. It is an institution in which the left and the right, the Devil and God, human achievements, human endeavors and human failures all are retained and classified, in order to teach mankind what not to repeat and what to emulate."
Prior to the ceremony, Fulton Professor of American Literature and Civilization and Co-Faculty Head of Atwater Commons ceremonial marshall Stephen Donadio commented, "Everyone will tell you that this is an important occasion, and there's really no occasion more important than the dedication of a new library." Gregorian's message echoed this sentiment tenfold. "Cemeteries do not provide earthly immortality to men and women. Libraries, and museums and universities do. Even clergy cannot promise you immortality; they can pray that God provide you immortality. But, librarians can promise you immortality, and deliver it," he said.