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NEWS
| March 23, 2004
Libraries
Dean candidate shares vision for libraries
John Gaboury is the 2nd Dean of
Libraries candidate to hold a forum on campus.
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| The Shorthorn: Brandon Wade |
| John Gaboury, Dean of Libraries
at the University of Toledo, answers questions
from faculty members in the Central Library on Monday
afternoon. |
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By John
Anderson
Contributor to The Shorthorn
As technology advances, libraries should be prepared to adjust and
expand facilities, said Dean of Libraries candidate John Gaboury.
One of three candidates for the new Dean of Libraries position,
Gaboury spoke Monday at a forum on the Central Library’s sixth
floor. About 100 people, mainly library and Office of Information
Technology personnel, listened as he presented his views on where
the libraries should be going and what steps he would take as Dean.
Librarians should also improve their basic skills, including managing
stacks, to ensure the quality of research sources for students,
Gaboury said.
“The librarian’s role is developing the knowledge base
for students,” he said.
Gaboury, who is the Dean of Libraries at the University of Toledo,
stressed the importance of information technology to libraries as
a research tool and an avenue for funding.
He said that in Toledo, Ohio, which is near automobile manufacturing
plants, a digital collection of automotive technology helped bring
in corporate grants.
For securing donations, digitizing special collections can be “a
reasonable solution,” he said.
Creating a vision plan for the libraries and having a Library Development
Officer are other important steps, he said.
Gaboury touted some initiatives which could benefit the university’s
libraries, such as a teaching, learning, and technology roundtable
and a student consultant program.
“His presentation showed he had done a lot of research on
the university and libraries here,” special collections coordinator
Ann Hodges said.
At the University of Toledo, management shuffles gave him some seniority
among its deans after only two years. Here, UTA and its libraries
have “a good base to build on,” he said.
The second of three dean candidates to hold a forum here, Gaboury
“was focused on different issues,” than March 11 speaker
Helen Spalding, Hodges said. The third candidate, associate director
of libraries Gerald Saxon, will speak at 10 a.m. March 20 on the
Central Library’s sixth floor.
The Dean of Libraries Search Committee will make a recommendation
to university President James Spaniolo and Dana Dunn, provost and
vice president for academic affairs, this summer.
CORRECTION
This story should have said libraries dean candidate
Gerald Saxon will be speaking at 10 a.m. on March 29.
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