The Ohio State University

To: Libraries' Staff

From: Joe Branin, Director of Libraries

Date: May 13, 2003

As you know, Carol Diedrichs will be leaving the Libraries on June 30, 2003, after 16 years of distinguished service to become the Dean of Libraries at the University of Kentucky. I have asked Sally Rogers and Jim Bracken to assume administrative duties for Technical Services and Collections on an acting basis for the next year. Our budget situation remains difficult, and just as I have asked many units of the Libraries to absorb vacant positions, we must do the same thing in Administration.

Sally Rogers will add the administration of the Technical Services Division to her current duties as Assistant Director for Information Technology. Sally has a background in technical services, beginning her career as a cataloger, and she has done an excellent job as Assistant Director for Information Technology, a division of the Libraries closely related to technical services. Sally has been a leader in the Knowledge Bank Project, which proposes to bring library expertise--particularly organizational, technical, and preservation expertise--to the management of unpublished digital assets at the University.

Jim Bracken will add the administration of collection management for the Libraries to his current duties as Assistant Director for Main Library Research and Reference Services. Collection Management is not a line division of the Libraries but rather a coordinating and oversight responsibility for the effective selection of library materials and for the allocation, expenditure, and monitoring of the Libraries' acquisitions budget. Jim is an outstanding bibliographer and an experienced manager of bibliographers in the humanities. As Assistant Director for Research and Reference in the Main Library, Jim has very successfully led the revitalization of this facility, and he has brought great energy and vision to library services in support of University teaching and research.

Of course, Sally and Jim already have full-time jobs in the Libraries, and we will have to evaluate over the next year how well they can absorb these added responsibilities. I did consider other reorganization options, and I had several strong candidates among department heads in the Libraries for both Technical Services and Collections. I appreciate these internal candidates’ willingness to consider options, and I truly am impressed with the depth of talent on our Libraries' staff.