We are off to a busy start this fall as we begin another academic year, and I'm pleased to share a number of compelling updates with you. I am most excited to note that Geisel Library has finally welcomed the Teaching + Learning Commons to our building. We will officially celebrate the addition of The Commons with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, October 17, which I hope you can all join me for. The Commons has already hit the ground running, offering a robust network of resources to improve the way faculty teach and students learn. Given the role the Library plays in supporting and advancing faculty and student research and learning, The Commons and Library staff are anticipating a number of collaborations that will further strengthen services and programs for faculty, students, and scholars.

I'm also pleased to report that we hosted 160 friends and donors at the 13th annual Dinner in the Library this September, raising a record-breaking $212,000 in support of Library collections, services, and learning spaces. This could not have been accomplished without help from our generous and devoted sponsors, and our inaugural honorary committee and its chair, Jeanne Jones. A most noteworthy moment was Chancellor Khosla's announcement of his commitment to a $1 million matching grant for gifts made to the Geisel Library Revitalization Initiative, a top fundraising priority for the Library as we plan to renovate and enhance the learning and study spaces inside our iconic building. The true highlight of the evening came when our featured speaker, NPR's Ari Shapiro, took the stage. You can watch his full talk on "Behind the News of the Moment" via the UCTV Library Channel, and read more about the event in the article below.

Many of you are familiar with our popular Holocaust Living History Workshop (HLHW) series that we co-sponsor with the UC San Diego Jewish Studies Program. As you will see in the article below, we are pleased to recognize Mrs. Estelle Dunst for her generous gift in support of the program through the Lou Dunst Trust in honor of her late husband, Holocaust survivor and educator, Lou Dunst.

Lastly, don't miss the profile of Lynda Claassen, director of Special Collections & Archives, who was recently honored with UC San Diego's 2016 Excellence in Stewardship Award.

We are hosting a number of events and exhibits this fall, which are listed below, so I hope to see some of you in the upcoming months.