Assistant Dean,  Harmon Straiton

Things!
They are Changing!

Dr. Stella Bentley has resigned to accept a position as Dean of Libraries, University of Kansas (UK), beginning April 1^st.  Congratulations, Stella!  A reception in her honor was held by the library faculty and staff on Wednesday, February 27^th.  Various university administrators were in attendance.  Dr. Bentley was presented a large porcelain statute of an eagle in flight with a mahogany wood base, and a plaque that read, “Appreciation to Stella Bentley, Auburn University Libraries, 2002.”  As a test of her administrative ability, she was required to repack the statue in its original gift box—no easy task.  Just to stress what she will be missing when she goes to UK, we had a fire alarm in the middle of the ceremonies and had to evacuate the building.  We did finally return and the festivities continued.

A search for an interim dean has been conducted and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. John F. Pritchett, has announced that Sheri Downer will serve in that capacity effective March 1^st and until a replacement dean has been appointed.  Congratulations, Sheri! 

Ms. Downer previously served as the Assistant Dean for Technical Services and Systems.  In addition, it has been decided that a search for a dean will begin in the immediate future.  While members of the search committee have not been selected, Dr. Pritchett expressed a desire that some of the members of the search committee for the interim dean be members of the search committee for a new dean.  Dr. Rebekah H. Pindzola, Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts, has agreed to serve as the chairperson for this committee to be comprised of members of the library and academic faculty.

Ms. Downer has decided to assign her former administrative duties and responsibilities as an assistant dean to Harmon Straiton, Assistant Dean for Information Services.  The exceptions will be those associated with the library systems.  Ms. Downer will continue to be involved in those.

More news …  the Auburn University Libraries is a primary partner in a $493,480 grant to the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL) from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).  The IMLS is an independent federal agency that fosters leadership, innovation and a lifetime of learning.  In the two-year Cornerstone Project, a collaborative statewide initiative to make historical treasures from Alabama’s archives, libraries, museums, and other repositories electronically accessible, the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries, Alabama Department of Archives and History, Auburn University, and The University of Alabama will establish a Web-based digital collection of documents, images, recordings, maps, and multimedia documenting U.S. and Alabama history.

Even more good news …  The services previously provided by the library courier have been expanded to include not only delivery of library materials between the libraries in the Auburn University library system but delivery to Auburn University academic department offices.  A member of the university faculty and staff or a graduate student can request that library materials be retrieved and delivered to his or her academic department office for pick-up. 

A Web-based request form is available at http://www.lib.auburn.edu/jcourier_login.htm.  Delivery service between the system’s three libraries, the Ralph Brown Draughon Library (RBDL), the Charles Allen Cary Veterinary Medical Library (CVML), and the Library for Architecture, Design, and Construction (LADC) will continue as well.  For additional information, contact Christine Black, Delivery Services, at 4-1728 or blackhe@auburn.edu.