The Olivier Fourie Research Room is the Dunes Center’s research library housing documents, books, articles, and journals all dealing with the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Complex or other dunes complexes around the world.

The mission of the Olivier Fourie Research Room is to enhance the understanding and preservation of the Guadalupe-Nipomo dunes ecosystem by providing access to library and research services.

Housed in the Dunes Center ’s 1910 American Craftsman house, the library offers a place to conduct research, write, and study with access to research tools, resources and staff.

Olivier was born in South San Francisco, the youngest of five children of French immigrants. He served in World War II as a cryptographer for the Army Air Force and was stationed in England. Returning home he earned a B.S. in political science from Santa Clara University, received teacher training from San Jose State University and became a junior high teacher in South San Francisco. He earned his M.A. in Education at San Francisco State University, and served as an administrator and assistant superintendent with the South San Francisco Unified School District.

In 1952 he married Gloria Muncey of San Mateo. Favorite family outings with their three daughters and son included trips to California beaches. Olivier was a life-long educator who enjoyed working with people and enriching their lives.

Gloria Fourie and her family’s vision for a fitting memorial is a natural sciences library. Their support makes possible the Dunes Center Research Library.

The Olivier Fourie Research Room commemorates Olivier’s love of the beaches of California and his love of learning. With the development of this resource center, researchers and visitors of all ages can learn more about the wonders of this magnificent natural environment and the importance of preserving it.

The library is focused on subjects such as flora, fauna, geology, history, conservation, and interpretation:

• Books
• Journal articles
• Dissertations
• Technical reports
• GIS data
• Private/Personal papers and letters
• Newspaper clippings
• Wildlife inventories
• Multi-media