Pepperdine University libraries received a $300,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Division of Preservation and Access to help further the development of sustainable preservation storage for humanities materials. The grant comes to Pepperdine just a few years after preservation consultants — hired as a result of a previous NEH planning grant in 2013 — made suggestions on how to improve the university’s archive structure.
The project, entitled “Pepperdine University Libraries: Developing a Sustainable Preservation Environment for Humanities Collections,” will use the funds to update climate and security systems in Pepperdine’s Special Collections and University Archives, and enhance learning experiences for students.
“We are gratified by this support from the National Endowment for the Humanities as we forge new directions for our library,” Provost Dr. Rick Marrs said in a statement provided to The Malibu Times.
This grant enables us to develop an exciting new preservation space for our special collections, which we look forward to introducing when Payson Library reopens to the public in fall of 2017.”
A 15-month renovation of Payson Library, located on Pepperdine’s Malibu campus, is currently underway to better house the library’s special collections — including rare books, manuscripts, photographs and other pivotal materials related to the history of Southern California and western religion and literature.
Facility upgrades will also include a new coffee shop, collaborative learning spaces and a student success center.