Case Western Reserve University News
New Hires
José Diaz, Associate Director for Academic Engagement Services, Kelvin Smith Library, Case Western Reserve University (Starts August 6, 2018)
Previous Position: Head of Humanities and Social Sciences Cohort, The Ohio State University Libraries
Shelby Stuart, Electronic Resource Librarian, Kelvin Smith Library, Case Western Reserve University (Started May 7, 2018)
Previous Position: Library Assistant IV, Kelvin Smith Library, Case Western Reserve University
Upcoming Conference at CWRU
Mark your calendars! This Fall, Kelvin Smith Library will be hosting “The Digital and Democracy” 2018 Digital Scholarship Colloquium bringing together the vanguard of professionals using digital tools to advance democracy. The colloquium will delve into how research can be used for the advocacy of communities experiencing disruption and inequality and in all the points that touch a person’s life, including, healthcare, housing, environment, social justice. The program will feature the country’s top scholarly work and digital tools used to scale the heights of democratic power and influence.
The conference will take place at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio on November 1-2, 2018
– Corina Chang, Case Western Reserve University
Denison University News
Peggy Rector has been elected to a three-year term as Member-at-Large of the Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) of the American Library Association. Peggy is the Assistant to the Director of Libraries at Denison University where she has been employed for the past 31 years. She has been an active member of the Academic Library Association of Ohio since 1986 and was 1994-95 chair of the Support Staff Interest Group. She was Public Relations Coordinator 2008 – 2013 and has served on numerous Conference Planning Committees.
-Peggy Rector, Denison University
Lakeland Community College News
Megan Mamolen has joined the Lakeland Community College Library as a full-time Reference and Instruction Librarian, Electronic Resources Emphasis. She is a graduate of Kent State University’s iSchool, and also earned a PhD in Molecular Biology and Microbiology from Case Western Reserve University. Following a transition from research science to academic libraries, she served as an Instructor at Kent State University’s iSchool, and worked as a part-time Librarian at Lakeland. She will continue on in her role as liaison to the health, life, and physical sciences departments on campus, and will also focus on electronic resources development and management.
-Michelle Rossman, Lakeland Community College
OhioNET Executive Director/CEO Michael P. Butler Announces Retirement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2018
COLUMBUS, April 10, 2018 — Executive Director/CEO Michael P. Butler has officially announced his retirement from OhioNET, effective January 2, 2019.
Butler’s 26-year tenure has been marked by innovation and collaboration. Two of the most notable innovations of that time have been the OPAL and COOL projects. Leaders from both OPAL and COOL conveyed their thoughts on Butler’s crucial leadership.
“Michael was instrumental in the formation of the OPAL (Ohio Private Academic Libraries) collaborative project in 1998 to implement a shared integrated library management system that allowed 16 private colleges to become part of OhioLINK to share physical materials” said Andrew Whitis, University Librarian at the University of Findlay and current OhioNET Board President. “He created a solid financial foundation for OPAL members that has created benefits beyond the original shared catalog. Michael’s guidance over the past twenty years has helped OPAL add additional participating libraries, share expertise, and provide numerous professional development opportunities for all of our staff.”
Community Library Executive Director/Fiscal Officer, Chauncey G. Montgomery shared that same gratitude and esteem, “Michael Butler’s interest in new technologies and innovative solutions provided the foundation needed to establish Ohio’s first statewide open source ILS consortium, COOL. The COOL libraries greatly appreciate his leadership and OhioNET’s support of our efforts.”
Likewise, collaboration has been a key theme during Butler’s tenure, and other library leaders have reflected on that point.
“Early on in his tenure as Executive Director of OhioNET, Michael had a vision that all Ohio libraries needed to be one community with equity at the core of our strategic mission,” wrote Theresa M. Fredericka, Director of INFOhio and OhioNET Board Member. “His leadership to help PreK-12 school libraries through staunch support of INFOhio and OELMA led to helping school librarians achieve equal access to professional learning. His vision of equity provided equal access to negotiated reductions in pricing for every library, regardless of size; and equal opportunities for school, public and academic libraries to work together. He is leaving a tremendous legacy to every Ohioan and to future generations.”
Tom Sanville, former Executive Director of OhioLINK, also remembered Butler’s spirit of cooperation as a hallmark. “Michael Butler’s unfailing spirit of cooperation and collaboration rather than competition is the hallmark of his tenure at OhioNET. Those of us from the other Ohio consortia who have worked closely with Michael have had a trusted colleague who always puts the interests of Ohio libraries first. Michael has made a lasting contribution to the continued excellence of the Ohio library community.”
Missy Lodge, Associate State Librarian for Library Development, further elaborated on the theme of Butler’s commitment to collaboration. “Throughout his time at OhioNET, Michael has shown a passion for libraries and a commitment to improving library services through collaboration. His vision brings together libraries of all types and in doing so, makes us stronger and more responsive institutions. Michael has accomplished this vision by empowering his staff to work with other library organizations, leading to successful events such as Your Library, Your Community and Embracing eBooks. And nowhere has his commitment to library collaboration been more apparent than Library Leadership Ohio. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Michael on LLO since 2010 when OhioNET stepped in to work with the State Library on retooling LLO. He firmly believes that LLO fosters collaboration in Ohio libraries by investing in future leaders and showing them the value in working together.”
The OhioNET Board has named a search committee for the Executive Director/CEO position. Whitis and Fredricka are co-chairing the committee. Further information about the search process will be shared with membership as it becomes available.
-Christine Morris, OhioNET
State Library of Ohio and OhioNET News
Registration is now open for Opioids in Communities: Libraries in Response!
In partnership with the State Library of Ohio and OhioNET, each of Ohio’s Regional Library Systems will sponsor a day of learning and networking called Opioids in Communities: Libraries in Response. From August 6th through the 9th, each region will host a day-long event featuring keynote speaker Sam Quinones, author of DREAMLAND: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, as well as practical, local perspectives on library responses. Including speakers from a variety of library perspectives—public, academic, and K-12—this series of events will continue the conversation begun at OLC’s recent symposium on the same topic. While this event is geared toward middle management and front- line library staff, staff at all levels are welcomed. We look forward to seeing you at one of the sessions! #LibrariesRespond
- Monday, August 6th—Bossard Memorial Library in Gallipolis
- Tuesday, August 7th—Sinclair Community College Conference Center in Dayton
- Wednesday, August 8th—Owens Community College in Findlay
- Thursday, August 9th—Hilton Garden Inn in Twinsburg
-Shelly Miller, OhioNET, Chair-Professional Development Committee
ALAO Newsletter 