SMC appoints new library director
By MEGHAN CASSIDY
News Writer
An extensive process comes to an end this week as Janet Fore, the new director of Saint Mary's Cushwa-Leighton Library, begins her position on campus.
The library's previous director, Sister Bernice Hollenhorst, retired last summer after holding the position for 27 years.
"The search committee for a new director was looking for an individual who possessed many of the same leadership qualities as Sister Bernice and Janet fit the bill quite well," said Robert Hohl, library faculty member and former interim director.
The search committee was led by reference librarian Julie Long and was composed of six members of Saint Mary's faculty and administration.
The committee interviewed six candidates for the position before deciding on Fore.
"Ms. Fore brings a strong commitment to undergraduate education and a recognition of the importance of information literacy skills in today's world," Long said.
Fore comes to Saint Mary's from the University of Arizona where she was a team leader in undergraduate services for 10 years. Her experience includes developing an Information Commons center at the Arizona campus. The development received much attention within library communities for addressing the need to combine technology and tradition in the library setting and integrating them into undergraduate education.
Long believes that Fore's wide range of previous experiences will prove an asset to Saint Mary's small environment.
Hohl is also excited about Fore's creative and inventive skills and optimistic about what she will bring to Saint Mary's.
"She is able to integrate many resources into learning and knows exactly what we are hoping to accomplish here," he said.
Along with the rest of the library staff, Hohl expects to see Fore successfully build on the library's directorship heritage and support Hollenhorst's example of service to faculty and students.
"It is important to maintain gradual and consistent improvements of library resources," said Hohl. "We can't just provide the materials, we also need to provide good service and assistance to students using the library."
Although this is Fore's first position as a library director, she plans to continue with many of her previous responsibilities by focusing on undergraduates and serving their education and information needs.
"I am looking forward to working in this smaller setting where librarians can get to know students and their needs more personally," Fore said.
Her other duties will include helping the library staff coordinate and provide library services for the campus.
"I was attracted to Saint Mary's because of the great library on a campus that's interesting and vibrant and has significant challenges that we can all face together as a staff and campus," Fore said.
Fore has already begun to look at what needs to be addressed and how to go about it. She said she is looking forward to creating positive changes within the library and working with the staff toward "a bright future."
Long shares the same hopes for the library's future.
"I look forward to working with her in identifying the strengths of our library and moving us forward to meet the new challenges in information delivery and service to the Saint Mary's community," she said.
All News Stories for Thursday, March 20, 2003
