Last modified: Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Patricia Steele to continue as Ruth Lilly Interim Dean of University Libraries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University President Michael McRobbie announced today (Sept. 19) that Patricia A. Steele will continue in her role as Ruth Lilly Interim Dean of University Libraries for up to two years. She has been serving as interim dean since 2005 when Suzanne Thorin, the former dean, accepted a position at Syracuse University.
"The recent search for the Dean of the Libraries did not result in the identification of a successor who is better positioned than Pat to move forward with new library initiatives," said McRobbie. "Hence, I asked Pat to continue her appointment, effective immediately.
"I appreciate the leadership and hard work that have characterized Pat's tenure as interim dean, and Provost Karen Hanson and I look forward to working with her in the months ahead," McRobbie added.
McRobbie, who said that a new search would begin later this academic year, noted that Steele had moved the libraries forward since 2005 in advancing scholarly communications intitatives, planning for facilities and engaging an assessment of technical services operations. He expects that she will continue to build upon library planning and initiatives already in place and continue to advance IUB Libraries with the extension of her appointment, he said.
Steele's tenure with IU Libraries began in 1975, and she has served as head of several Bloomington campus libraries, including the Education Library, the School of Library and Information Science Library, and the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Library. She has served as head of Customer and Access Services and as coordinator of Academic Information and Customer Services. Steele was formerly executive associate dean and also was acting dean during the 1966 search that resulted in Suzanne Thorin being named to head of IU Libraries.
She has been especially active within state library leadership circles. She twice served as President of the Indiana Library Federation and presently is a governor's appointee to the Indiana State Library and Historical Board. She also has served as president of the Board of Trustees of the Monroe County Public Library.
The Indiana University Libraries comprise one of the leading academic research library systems in North America, providing strong collections, quality service and instructional programs, and leadership in the application of information technologies.
The Herman B Wells Library on the Bloomington campus alone contains 6,793,441 bound volumes in more than 900 languages, a collection that is the largest in the state of Indiana and is ranked 13th in size among North American research libraries. The materials support every academic discipline on campus, with an emphasis in the humanities and social sciences. Collections also include journals, maps, films and sound recordings. Users can access more than 400 databases, 43,000 electronic journals and 224,000 electronic books, as well as locally developed digital content.
All IU libraries are open to residents of the state as well as to IU faculty and students.
