The Harold & Birdie Mosak Library

The Life

Harold Mosak Ph.D. is an icon of Adlerian psychology and a beloved mentor to mental health professionals across the globe. His passion for learning and commitment to community as a tool for improving mental health continue to inspire Adler School faculty, staff and students.

In 1952, Harold co-founded the Alfred Adler Institute along with his mentor Rudolf Dreikurs and colleague and Bernard Shulman, M.D. These three men made up the Institute’s entire faculty and staff, taking on whatever needed to be done, from teaching courses to stuffing envelopes. These efforts helped transform the Institute into today’s Adler School of Professional Psychology.

Through more than 60 years, Harold has taught at more than 70 academic institutions around the world—passing along his wisdom and wit to thousands of students, practitioners, educators, and parents while conveying the core Adlerian concepts of mental health and community.

Harold’s late wife, Birdie, was a full partner in his commitment to scholarship, teaching, community building, and reaching out to students beyond the classroom. Thanks to the Mosaks’ generosity, students from around the world were able to study at The Adler School and spread its ideas throughout the globe. The Mosaks’ dedication created an extended family among students and colleagues and built a legacy of learning that has lasted more than six decades.

The Legacy:The Harold & Birdie Mosak Library

In the Adler Institute’s early years, Harold founded the library. Though works by Adler and his students were hard to find, Harold acquired them one by one and recruited students to the cause. Slowly, the library grew. Today, the library is at the heart of The Adler School’s stunning new Chicago campus. With more than 4,400 square feet and a staff of professional librarians and student assistants, the library offers The Adler School community full use of modern academic resources for research and teaching. The library’s collection of books, journals, electronic resources, and audiovisual materials is complemented by an online catalog enabling students and faculty to access information easily in a variety of formats. The library offers one of the world’s finest archives of Adlerian psychology materials. Only Harold’s personal collection of Adlerian books surpasses that of the Adler School.

Celebrating a Life's Work

We are unceasingly grateful to Harold and Birdie Mosak. Together, they created a legacy of rich academic resources, community, and generosity of spirit. The Campaign for the Harold & Birdie Mosak Library is a national effort to bring Adler School alumni and Adlerian friends together in raising $1 million for a library that is among the best in the world. Please join us as we celebrate the life’s work of Harold and Birdie. Your contribution to the library campaign is truly a fitting tribute to Harold and Birdie’s passion for Adlerian scholarship and practice.

Support the Legacy

Your participation in this campaign is a testament to Harold and Birdie’s love of the written word and their commitment to delivering knowledge into the hands, hearts and minds of students across the globe. You can perpetuate your experience with Harold and Birdie by naming the archives, the computer research room, group study lounge or a private study station. For current information on naming opportunities in the new library, contact the Office of Development.

Ways to Participate

You have many options in giving to the Campaign for the Harold & Birdie Mosak Library:

• Pledge an amount to be paid over three to five years, using a convenient payment schedule.
• Send your gift via check or credit card.
• Contribute appreciated stock.
• Establish a legacy gift, such as a bequest, charitable gift annuity, or life insurance.

Your gift may be matched by your or your spouse’s place of employment. Check with your employer for eligibility requirements. For more information about the Campaign for the Harold & Birdie Mosak Library and giving opportunities, please contact:

Office of Institutional Advancement
312-662-4031 

All gifts made to the Campaign for the Harold & Birdie Mosak Library are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law. The Adler School of Professional Psychology (#36 251 5281) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.