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Brigham Young University has received a $3 million gift from ALSAM Foundation for the creation of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Library wing in the Harold B. Lee Library.
A press release states that Perry, a member of Quorum of The Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church, was honored by the foundation for his lifelong commitment to education.
``He has served in both the public and private sector and has been a shining example to everyone,'' said Michael Miller, president of the ALSAM Foundation.
BYU librarian Sterling J. Albrecht said the special collections library will be among the preeminent facilities of its kind in the nation. Holdings in the collection are valued at $153 million and include 280,000 books and printed items, more than 500,000 historical photographs related to Utah and the West and more than 8,000 manuscript collections.
BYU President Merrill J. Bateman said the special collections library will be a learning center that will reach ``far beyond the campus.''
``This gift will now memorialize the great contributions of the Skaggs and of Elder Perry,'' said Bateman.
The collection also supports instruction for 3,500 students each year.
The new wing is part of the addition to the library under construction on the Provo campus. It is scheduled to open to the public by fall 1999.