Robert Gore, visual arts librarian at the UCLA Library from 2005 to 2026, established the Robert Gore and Mitchell Levin Endowment for Artists' Books in the Arts Library in 2022 to support the acquisition, management and preservation of resources for artists' books. The endowment paid tribute to Gore's partner, Mitchell Levin, who passed away unexpectedly in November 2021. A story analyst for major film studios, as well as a writer and teacher, Levin's discernment of written and filmed narratives was legendary. He worked on many critically acclaimed films, including The Crucible (1996), on which he served as a development executive and associate producer.
The endowment honors Levin and Gore’s shared love of artists’ books and their belief that this boundary-blurring art form should be widely known, studied and appreciated. Gore, who was named UCLA Librarian of the Year in 2024, transformed UCLA's artists' books collection into one of the largest in North America, inspiring generations of students, scholars, artists and creators.
Funded exclusively by donor endowments and gift funds, and due in sizable part to Gore's acquisitions over his long tenure, this world-class resource is used regularly in teaching across multiple disciplines. Gore passed away in 2026 and will be deeply missed by colleagues and by the countless creatives and art lovers whose lives were enriched by his work.
