During its fall meeting this week the UK Libraries National Advisory Board had an opportunity to learn more about UK Libraries strategic goals and special initiatives. Mary Molinaro, Deirdre Scaggs, and Eric Weig made a presentation on several digital projects underway including upgrades to the KY Digital Library and Exploring UK. They also emphasized the important role that digitized unique materials play in both research and undergraduate education.
Greg Casey discussed with the board his goals as Director of Development and stressed the important role that board members play in the success of UK Libraries development.
President Eli Capilouto joined the board for lunch in the Boone Center and afterwards thanked the board for their service to UK Libraries and reviewed his goals as president.
Gail Kennedy Will Begin Phased Retirement:
Gail Kennedy will begin phased retirement beginning July 1, 2012 when she begins a half-time assignment in Special Collections focusing on unique fine arts collections.
To facilitate a smooth transition in the Fine Arts Library, Gail will step down from her current position as Director of the Fine Arts Library on February 1, 2012. An internal search will be conducted for a Head of the Fine Arts Library.
Since 1974 Gail has helped lead UK Libraries from the era of manual typewriters and catalog cards to the current digital world of librarianship. She has been a positive force for change while always keeping the needs of library users in mind. She has serve as Head of Acquisitions, Head of Circulation, Assistant Director for Technical Services, Associate Director of Libraries, Director of Branch Libraries, and Director of the Lucille Little Fine Arts Library
In every position Gail Kennedy has been innovative and a mentor and role model for generations of librarians. Beyond her specific library positions Gail found time to serve as adjunct faculty in the UK School of Library and Information Science for nearly ten years teaching cataloging, Library Networks, and Technical Services.
Gail has taught UK101 for UK freshmen since 2008. She has served on the University Appeals Board and recently chaired the College of Fine Arts External Review Committee. Gail has held numerous posts in the American Library Association and served as President of the Library Leadership and Management Association. She served on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) during a crucial time of development for online cataloging.
In 1991 Gail was recognized as the Outstanding Academic Librarian of the Year by the Kentucky Library Association. This year she received the Outstanding Alumna award from UK’s School of Library and Information Science.
We appreciate Gail’s contributions during her career at UK and are pleased that she will continue half-time during her phased retirement in this important assignment.
UK Libraries Well Represented in Presidents Report to the Board:
Each meeting of the UK Board of Trustees, President Capilouto highlights recent accomplishments within the university. This week the President’s Report contained nine items that described initiatives and activities within UK Libraries and accomplishments by UK faculty and staff.
http://www.uky.edu/Trustees/agenda/full/2011/oct/pr1.pdf
Year of China:
In a recent press release, Whitney Hale focused on how UK’s Year of China initiative sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences relies on campus collaboration including UK Libraries:
UK Libraries Director of International Programs Toni Greider began seriously thinking about the Year of China last April when she had two visiting Chinese scholars in the library. UK Libraries serve the entire campus and has a unique opportunity to collaborate, said Greider.
UK subject librarians work closely with their respective units, University Archives preserves the campus history and the William T. Young Library provides a space for interaction by faculty and students from all areas of campus.
"This was an initiative that was a good match for what we have to offer," she said. "What makes it unique is the blending of classes focusing on China along with cultural events and public venues. This blending of the academic with the extracurricular makes these types of initiatives more integrated into the campus community."
UK Libraries has quite an ambitious Year of China agenda, from exhibits of Chinese literature, instruments and video, to presentations on Chinese medicine and an electronic research guide for beginning research on China.
The entire press release can be found here: http://uknow.uky.edu/content/year-china-relies-campus-collaboration
Thanks to Whitney Hale, Judy Sackett, and Lewis Warden for their contributions to the Weekly Review.
Terry Birdwhistell
Dean of Libraries
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