Association of Research Libraries (ARL®)

Martha Whitehead is an Associate University Librarian at Queen’s University, one of Canada’s leading public research institutions. Martha provides leadership in the development and management of information services and electronic information systems, and with the University Librarian and the other Associate University Librarian she shares in establishing long-term directions for Queen’s Library, in planning and evaluating user-focused services, in ensuring the continuous improvement of organizational and service effectiveness, and in allocating budget and staffing resources. She is responsible for the overall direction of designated public service units and the systems unit, as well as the ongoing development of the library’s information technology infrastructure and digital library services. Specific initiatives under Martha’s direction have included development of the Queen’s Learning Commons, Queen’s institutional repository, the e-theses service and strategic partnerships with ITServices, the Centre for Teaching and Learning, and other university units. As well, Martha is actively involved with the Ontario Scholars Portal initiative and is currently chair of its Public Services Advisory Group.

Prior to joining Queen’s in 2004, Martha was a librarian at the University of British Columbia Library for 19 years. She was Head of the Information Services unit there from 1997 to 2004, and prior to that held positions in systems, reference, circulation, and distance education. In 2003, Martha undertook a study leave at the University of Melbourne, where she worked with the Teaching, Learning, and Research Support unit of the Information Division. Martha’s interests lie in the transformative opportunities of networked information. In the RLLF program, she hopes to explore the factors that will ensure research libraries’ successful transition from organizations based on print repositories to networked information services that cross institutional and disciplinary boundaries and are embedded in teaching, learning, and research.