2024-2025 Impact Report_final version

The Journey of a Collection Honoring the Legacy of Fr. Mike Blastic

While library users see new titles appear in the catalog daily, the journey from library donation to placement on the shelf involves a rigorous, collaborative process behind the scenes. This was especially true for the significant bequest of Father Mike Blastic. Following Fr. Blastic’s sudden passing in December 2023, his extensive personal library was donated to the Franciscan School of Theology (FST) at the University of San Diego. The donation directly supported the FST’s teaching and scholarship goals. Aligning donations with these collection management priorities is essential for maintaining a vibrant library to serve its community. Over the following 18 months, a joint effort between FST and Copley Library ensured this scholarly treasure was preserved and integrated into our collections. Evaluation and Selection The process began with an in situ inventory led by Sister Juliet Mousseau, PhD, FST’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, who confirmed the collection’s scholarly depth. Martha Adkins, Liaison Librarian to FST, then collaborated with Sr. Mousseau and Joe Lonergan, Director of Student Services and Spiritual Formation, to establish evaluation criteria. Over several months, FST staff and students reviewed each volume to identify subject gaps in the library catalog and avoid unnecessary duplication. Their selections from the bequest significantly bolster our library resources in medieval history and theology, Franciscan primary and secondary sources, and biographies of Saint Francis and his followers, and include rare volumes in Italian, French, German, and Latin.

Cataloging and Integration Once selected, the books were moved to Copley Library for cataloging and processing. To honor Fr. Blastic, the library’s cataloging team, led by Millie Fullmer, Acquisition and Cataloging Librarian, added the catalog records, applied custom bookplates, and created a “local tracing” designation with Fr. Blastic’s name in the library catalog. This note of provenance allows future researchers to identify books specifically from Fr. Blastic’s estate. The Final Sort In Summer 2025, the project entered its final phase. Martha Adkins performed one last curation, dividing the titles between two distinct areas: • FST General Collection: Supporting broad research in theology and religious studies. • Franciscana Collection: A specialized designation for materials vital to the study of Franciscan history and theology worldwide. Conclusion Today, Fr. Blastic’s collection is cataloged and available to the USD community and global scholars. This achievement stands as a testament to the seamless collaboration between FST and Copley Library, ensuring that Fr. Blastic’s intellectual legacy continues to inspire students and scholars for generations to come.

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