MSU Libraries celebrates naming of Zaiga Kuze Moon and Mirdza Kuze Reading Lounge
EAST LANSING, Mich., April 2026 – On March 31, Michigan State University Libraries celebrated the naming of the Zaiga Kuze Moon and Mirdza Kuze Reading Lounge with a ribbon cutting and reception honoring the Moon family’s generous contribution to the popular study space in the Main Library.
The gift that made this naming ceremony possible originated with Joon S. Moon, a former chair of the MSU Research Foundation and an MSU alumnus who earned his B.A. in Engineering in 1960. The university’s Joon S. Moon Distinguished International Alumni Award, among the institution’s premier international recognitions, is named in his honor.
“The naming of the Zaiga Kuze Moon and Mirdza Kuze Reading Lounge is a profound testament to how philanthropy can bridge the history of a family with the future of our students,” said Caitlyn Perry Dial, Director of Development for MSU Libraries. “This gift does more than just enhance a popular study space — it honors a multi-generational legacy that began within these very walls.”
The chosen date of the celebration intentionally coincided with the anniversary of the day Joon Moon first met his wife Zaiga Kuze, a 1962 graduate of MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences, at Michigan State University more than 65 years ago. They initially met on March 31, 1959, which was also Joon’s first day on campus, when their paths crossed at the Kellogg Center’s State Room Restaurant, where Zaiga was working as a dinner hostess. They were later formally introduced at the MSU Main Library, where Zaiga’s mother Mirdza Kuze was employed. Born in Latvia, Mirdza Kuze immigrated to the United States later in life and worked at the MSU Libraries from 1956 until her retirement in 1977.
The Moon family’s connection to the MSU Libraries is longstanding. In 1992, Joon and Zaiga Moon established the Mirdza Kuze Endowment for Baltic Collections, named for Zaiga’s mother. This endowment remains the only one of its kind in the Big Ten, not only allowing the MSU Libraries to purchase materials in Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian languages, but also positioning the university as a primary destination for researchers studying in these areas.
Joon and Zaiga Moon’s children were present at the naming ceremony, including their daughter Jenny Moon, who in her remarks described the dedication as “a love story in three parts,” noting the significant roles of her grandmother, her parents and the family’s overall appreciation for education in establishing the Zaiga Kuze Moon and Mirdza Kuze Reading Lounge at the MSU Libraries.
“The first part of this story is about my grandmother’s love for her children,” Moon said.“She worked at the Michigan State Libraries for many years. For her it was more than a job, it was an opportunity for her daughters. The second love story is my parents. The reason that we are gathered here today, March 31, is because that is the day that they met, here at MSU in 1959.They were married 62 years before my mother passed away last year, and it’s my father’s love for her that brings us here today. The third love story is an overarching love of learning. My family on both sides strongly valued education. The fact that my parents met at Michigan State University makes perfect sense, and the dedication of this space today brings these three love stories full circle — love of family, love of learning and love for each other. We are grateful for the opportunities Michigan State has given my family, and we hope that this fireplace lounge will spark the flames of knowledge and other love stories to come.”
Dean of Libraries Neil Romanosky expressed gratitude for the support of the Moon family in his reception remarks, underscoring the significance of the Zaiga Kuze Moon and Mirdza Kuze Reading Lounge as a primary campus study locale. “This space has long been a place of focus and connection for our students, and we look forward to continuing to welcome them here under a name that reflects a meaningful legacy of scholarship and community,” he said. “We remain profoundly grateful for the support of the Moon family as their generosity continues to help shape the Libraries in lasting ways.”
For more information about naming opportunities and other ways to support the MSU Libraries, please contact Director of Development Caitlyn Perry Dial or visit the Support the MSU Libraries webpage.