The legacy of Friends

Every day, students, scholars and researchers on the University of Delaware's campus - and around the world - can access rare British manuscripts and art, a Shakespeare folio and some two million other unique resources from UD's Library, Museums and Press' Special Collections, which is partly supported by the annual contributions of Friends of the Library.

For nearly 70 years, the philanthropic group has contributed more than $2.5 million in support of the UD's Library, Museums and Press. Their generosity has helped transform the scope and impact of the University's scholarly assets.

Now, after careful consideration and reflection, the Friends dissolved as an organization at the end of the 2025-2026 fiscal year, said President Jim Dalle Pazze at their farewell dinner this past April celebrating the group's generosity over the years.

"It's bittersweet," said Dalle Pazze. "But we have done what we set out to do," he said. "Friends groups have been dissolving nationally because donors are choosing to give directly to their library of choice."

UD students, faculty and the broader community are encouraged to make donations directly to the library.