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During the spring of 2025, the Cheng Library undertook a major project to create space for the new Living Jazz Archives location on the 2nd floor. Physical renovations to the Library building and a careful review of Library collections helped free up space for the new Jazz Archives. The Library utilized collection management standards to review materials and ensure rare or culturally significant works were retained for campus use. As a result of the review process, the Chinese Collection was identified as an area where the Library could embark on a partnership with the Internet Archive to preserve and extend access to the unique collection. A large portion of the Chinese Collection was ultimately donated to the Internet Archive, providing long-term preservation, expanding global access, and ensuring accessibility to the WP community.The Chinese Collection holds special significance for William Paterson University. Through the generosity of David and Lorraine Cheng, the Library expanded its holdings with scholarly monographs, yearbooks, and the CD-ROM edition of the Si Ku Quan Shu, a set of 152 disks containing over three thousand Chinese classical works. This acquisition helped establish the Cheng Library’s Chinese Collection as one of the most extensive scholarly collections on Chinese history in northern New Jersey. Dr. Cheng, who served as a member of the William Paterson University Board of Trustees from 1990 to 1999 and holds a Ph.D. in structural mechanics, was instrumental in supporting the growth of this unique resource.This project both honors the Chengs’ legacy and advances the Library’s mission by balancing responsible stewardship, preservation, and innovative space planning.
