The Mission of the Library Associates is to enhance the Saint Louis University Libraries and the development of their world renowned collections and services.
Most prominently, the associates sponsor the St. Louis Literary Award. Annually, the associates present a generous gift to the SLU Libraries. In addition, the associates contribute to the cultural life of the larger St. Louis community by presenting literary and cultural programs. Members enjoy the Evenings at Home series, which introduces local authors in the setting of private homes.
Become a Library Associates Member
Memberships begin at $100 and include:
- Exclusive invitation to the annual St. Louis Literary Award, which has honored distinguished writers such as W. H. Auden, Barbara Tuchman, Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty, Saul Bellow, and Joan Didion, among many others.
- Membership-only programs held in private homes and arts and culture settings in the community.
- Access to the unique resources of Saint Louis University Libraries, including use of comprehensive collections in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
- Borrowing privileges from Pius XII Memorial Library.
Membership Levels for the Library Associates
| Contributing Member |
Supporting Member |
Literary Member |
Patron | Benefactor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$100
Exclusive invitation to the annual St. Louis Literary Award Pius XII Memorial Library borrowing privileges and access to unique library resources Invitations to membership-only literary programs |
$150
Preferred seating at St. Louis Literary Award event All benefits listed before |
$250
Program recognition All benefits listed before |
$500
Signed copy of the awardee's work All benefits listed before |
$1000
Dinner with awardee at a private home and two award reception tickets All benefits listed before |
| Become a Library Associates Member Today | ||||
Who are the Library Associates?
In 1964, SLU President Father Paul Reinert convened a group of civic-minded St. Louisans of varied religions to establish an organization dedicated to the growth of the university libraries.
Among the riches of the libraries are The Vatican Film Library, described by one Oxford scholar as “the most important single addition ever made to the libraries of America,” and an invaluable rare books collection that is especially rich in Jesuit and Church history, theology, philosophy, rhetoric and education, and emblem books.
Board of Directors, Elected and Ex-Officio Directors
President
- Ted Ibur
Past-President
- Lana Pepper
Vice-President
- Fran Pestello
Outreach Coordinator
- Clarkson ”Joe” Carpenter, III
Board Members
- Kevin E. Ertl
- Kent Hornberger
- Tom Lowther
- Frances Pestello, Ph.D.
- Raymond G. Slavin, M.D.
- Jane von Kaenel
- Tani Wolff
Literary Award Chair
- Ted Ibur
Arts and Sciences Faculty Representative
- Nancy Bell, Associate Professor, Fine and Performing Arts
Staff Representative
- Program Director, SLU Honors Program
Student Representative
- Kevin Lynch, Student Government Association President
Ex-Officio Directors
- David Cassens, Dean of Libraries
- Erika Cohn, Director, Law Library
- Patrick McCarthy, Director, Medical Library
Annual Newsletter
- 2019 Saint Louis University Library Associates Newsletter
- 2018 Saint Louis University Library Associates Newsletter
- 2017 Saint Louis University Library Associates Newsletter
Please send comments and suggestions to Saint Louis University Library Associates.