Reorganization to enhance Library services

Judith Nadler in Mansueto Library Grand Reading Room
Judith Nadler in Mansueto Library (Photo by Jason Smith)

As 2012 begins, I am implementing major changes in the Library’s organization that will strengthen the Library’s ability to provide traditional services, while enabling us to take on new roles at the University and provide new services to our community. 

Programmatic changes on campus and recent turnover in key Library positions have provided impetus for organizational change. New University appointments in Information Technology and Research Computing offer opportunities for exciting collaborations between the Library and other units on campus.

After careful consultation with Library staff through the work of Task Forces on Collections, Services, and Scholarly Communication, I am now putting into place a new structure that will enable us to fulfill the following strategic programmatic goals:

  • Establish a unified vision and voice for:
    • Collection Services,
    • User Services,
    • Digital Services,
    • collections in the Humanities and Social Sciences to parallel those for the Sciences and for Law.

To achieve these goals, the following newly defined positions were established as of January 1, 2012:

  • The Associate University Librarian for Collection Services provides vision, leadership, and coordination for collections and related services across disciplines and formats. James Mouw, who was most recently Assistant Director for Technical and Electronic Services and Interim Assistant Director for Collections, has been appointed to this position.
  • The Associate University Librarian for User Services provides vision, leadership, and coordination for access services, reference, instruction, and outreach. James Vaughan, who was most recently Assistant Director for Access and Facilities Services, has been appointed to this position.
  • The Associate University Librarian for Digital Services provides vision, leadership, and coordination for the Library’s growing digital programs and services. Elisabeth Long, who was most recently Co-Director of the Digital Library Development Center, has been appointed to this position. Charles Blair, previously Co-Director of the Digital Library Development Center, has been appointed Director of the Digital Library Development Center.
  • The Assistant University Librarian for Humanities, Social Sciences, and Special Collections provides vision, leadership, and coordination for general and special collections in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Alice Schreyer, who was most recently Director of the Special Collections Research Center, has been appointed to this position. Daniel Meyer, previously Associate Director, Special Collections Research Center and University Archivist, has been appointed Director, Special Collections Research Center, and University Archivist.
  • The Director for Administrative Services provides vision, leadership, and administration for Library facilities services as well as budget and personnel. Denise Weintraub, who was most recently Assistant Director for Library Administration, has been appointed to this position.

The Library’s decision-making and planning structures have been strengthened by the creation of a new decision-making body, the Director’s Council, which will provide counsel and coordinated vision for the Library. In addition to the Library Director, members of the Director’s Council are the three newly defined Associate University Librarians mentioned above. A redefined Library Administrative Committee (AdCom) is comprised of the Library Director; the three Associate University Librarians; the Law Librarian (Associate Dean for Library and Information Services, Law); the Co-Directors of the Science Libraries; the Assistant University Librarian for Humanities, Social Sciences, and Special Collections; the Director for Administrative Services; and the Information Technology Management team: Charles Blair and Frances McNamara, who is Director of Integrated Library Systems & Administrative & Desktop Computing.

The organizational chart will help readers visualize the new organization. This chart is a mix of formal organizational structure and functional areas of responsibility and does not include all of the details of departmental unit organization. 

I look forward to working with Library staff within this new organization to achieve a number of goals: to enable new and evolving roles for the Library while recognizing and strengthening the Library’s traditional roles; to build a human infrastructure that has the skills and vision to move the organization forward through promotion of existing talent and hiring of new talent; to prepare us to hire staff in key areas that underpin our goals for the future; and to ensure a communications structure that promotes decentralized input and facilitates informed decision making and implementation. I encourage you to contact me or any of the Library staff members I have identified with any questions about the reorganization.