Special Gifts and Collections

With the help of the Friends of the Bethel University Library we continually add materials to enhance our collection and inspire our community to be life-long learners. These materials include popular non-fiction, new and classic fiction, games, and more! 

Friends of the Bethel University Library Book Collection

Games and Puzzles Collection

Personal Collections

Dr. David Moberg Collection

Dr. David Moberg, Professor of Sociology, has significant history at Bethel. He attended during his undergraduate education and later taught here for nineteen years, serving as the Chair of the Department of Sociology before moving on to complete his distinguished career at Marquette University. In recognition of his significant ties to Bethel he donated a number of books from his library on the subject of Aging & Spirituality, a field in which he did pioneering research and published extensively.

Nancy Lundquist Art Collection

As Nancy and Carl Lundquist, Bethel's longest serving president, traveled around the world, they collected a substantial library of art books. In the spring of 1999, Nancy donated over 100 of these beautiful books to the Bethel University Library.

 

Memorial Collections

Connie J. Larson Speaking of Faith Collection

Connie Larson ('73) was not only a voracious reader of all genres of literature from science fiction to political commentary to Christian devotional material, but also an avid listener to Minnesota Public Radio. When the radio program Speaking of Faith (now On Being) started in 1999 she quickly became a fan.

Although Connie suffered from several life-threatening medical conditions, they never deterred her from listening, reading and then engaging others in meaningful conversations. And she never stopped offering ideas to improve the BU Library and its collections. In 2005, Connie began selecting books from On Being to add to the collection until she became too ill to continue. The Friends have carried on this project with gifts sent in memory of Connie.

Nancy Steinbach Ward Memorial Collection

The wonderful books in this collection are a gift of the Vivien and Ralph Steinbach family. Vivien, a former Circulation Supervisor at the University Library, wanted to provide a memorial for her daughter, Nancy, a talented photographer who died at the age of 24. In doing so, she has benefited a generation of students.

Terry Coffee Urban Youth Studies and Reconciliation Collection

Using gifts given to the Friends of the Library in memory of Terry Coffee, this collection of materials was purchased for the library on the topics of Urban Youth Studies and Reconciliation. Terry S. Coffee had a long career in service to others as area Director for Young Life, Director of Multicultural Development for Bethel University and as Executive Director of World Vision - Twin Cities. Terry went to be with the Lord in 2009 after a three year struggle with cancer.