It may be a little early to talk about building the Barack Obama Presidential Library, but universities are starting to line up for the bidding. Last year the University of Chicago contacted the Obama administration to float the idea of building the library there. As Bloomberg News noted, an Obama library would add to the university’s collection of Nobel Prize winners. But when a friend of the president asked him about the prospect, Bloomberg reported, “the response was cool.”
Now the University of Hawaii is trying to lay claim to the presidential legacy, the Associated Press reports. Mr. Obama at least taught at the University of Chicago; he did not attend Hawaii, but other members of his immediate family did. In terms of academic reputation, the university would have an uphill battle against Chicago, not to mention a number of controversies in recent years (among them, serious deferred-maintenance problems).
Presidential libraries can be tourist attractions with economic impact—the AP notes that the William J. Clinton Presidential Library gets 300,000 annual visitors and has generated $1.5-billion in Little Rock, Ark.
A presidential library in Hawaii would be rather remote to the rest of the country. But Reed Dasenbrock, vice chancellor for academic affairs on the university’s Manoa campus, thinks it could still be a draw. “If I’ve been to Honolulu many times, why will I come back the eighth or ninth time? We do believe that [an Obama library] would be an additional attraction here that would bring repeat visitors as well as many first-time visitors,” he told the AP.
It’s also early to think about what the Obama library might look like, but be prepared: The Chronicle will probably repeat our presidential-library contest from a couple of years ago.
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5 Responses to An Obama Library at the U. of Hawaii?
22251262 - November 15, 2010 at 5:03 pm
With no disrespect to President Obama (I voted for him), I think this nation would be better off if it ended the tradition of presidential libaries. Although local funding does exist, such institutions are an additional item on the Federal budget as I recall. For all the talk of local tourism, I seriously question the cost/benefit analysis of such libraries unless all expenses, including employees, are funded locally.
kosboot - November 15, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Indeed, archivist David Ferriero has also questioned the idea of building a separate library for each president, suggesting that future libraries could couple with each other, or just rely on the main branch of the National Archives in Washington. Since the papers generated by the Executive Branch belong to the U.S. Government, I think this is the most appropriate solution. (Even though the Bush library at SMU has a foundation attached to it, it’s reasonable to assume that 10-30 years from now, many will not be so forthcoming with voluntary contributions to the institution.)
Perhaps if citizens were reminded that it’s their tax money that helps build/support these institutions, they would start thinking about keeping costs down by using the main branch, or at least currently-existing libraries.
Jacqueline Sarah Wilkie - December 15, 2011 at 5:05 pm
Well I have a santa, candy canes, wreaths and lights on five bushes–where does that put me working class or middle class?
cwm4c - December 16, 2011 at 9:43 am
I hope no one actually paid for this study and it was purely volunteer work!
jaysanderson - December 16, 2011 at 11:26 am
The research is cute and all, and certainly keeping with the spirit of the season, but please, PLEASE don’t let any major news outlets pick this up: “After the break- $30,000 per year to learn to hang Christmas lights? What are students learning in college?”