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Examines the current international economic disruption and its effect on scholarly and academic communities, including a shift in donor philosophy. Considers how academic and cultural institutions are reevaluating traditional areas of support; discusses implications for research libraries, including special collections; and offers suggestions for coping with an unfamiliar fundraising environment. (Author/LRW)

THIS ESSAY EXAMINES THE CURRENT international economic disruption and its effect upon the scholarly and academic community, an effect that is exacerbated by what appears to be a fundamental shift in donor philosophy. Taken together, these factors are forcing academic and cultural institutions to reevaluate traditional areas of support in light of broader societal pressures. The implications for research libraries, including their special collections department, are profound, and much of this essay is devoted to strategies for coping with an unfamiliar and competitive fund, raising environment: The ;approach is to stress the need for librarians, including those in Special collections, t0 develop a long-term vision and strategy based upon a flexible working knowledge of the evolving goals and mission of the parent library and institution. Additionally, the essay emphasizes the necessity for understanding the broader philanthropic environment and the tools required to exploit philanthropic opportunity, from planned giving and investment vehicles to donor-advised giving instruments, [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]