More should volunteer to host library party

I would like to thank The Chronicle for covering the obstacles to planning the library party this year, and for the Feb. 19 editorial, “Too quiet in the library.” I appreciate the issues raised by the editorial, but want to clarify one point.  

In the best possible world, we would receive numerous creative proposals for the party from student groups. The reality is that I have been approached each year by only one or perhaps two groups with ideas. This year, the Duke Partnership for Service was alone in presenting a proposal, so rather than selecting theirs from among many (as the editorial implies), we encouraged them to plan the party.

It didn’t work out, for reasons that are well explained in The Chronicle article, but I want to reiterate my interest in continuing to host a library party, and I invite interested student groups to put their creativity to work in developing proposals for future events.

Deborah Jakubs

Vice Provost for Library Affairs