Eugene, Oregon
May 13-15, 1998

The Future Network: Transforming Learning and Scholarship

Summary of Welcoming Remarks

James G. Neal, Johns Hopkins University, ARL President

Following an opening reception and banquet, Jim Neal, Johns Hopkins University and president of ARL, welcomed members and guests to the 132nd Membership Meeting.

Introduction of New Directors

Two new directors of ARL libraries were introduced by a colleague.

Gerry Munoff, University of California-Irvine, was introduced by Martin Runkle, Unversity of Chicago. Mr Runkle's comments follow:

It is my great pleasure to introduce Gerry Munoff, who will assume the position of University Librarian of the University of California-Irvine on July 1. Gerry is a graduate of Antioch College and has a master’s degree in library science from the University of Kentucky. He was a librarian at Berea College and the University of Kentucky before being appointed Director of Administrative Services at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.

He was subsequently promoted to Deputy State Librarian and Deputy Commissioner in Kentucky. I hired him to come to the University of Chicago in 1985 to be Assistant Director for Administrative Services. He very quickly demonstrated his many talents and capacity for hard work, so I added the Preservation Department and the Library Development Office to his portfolio and appointed him Deputy Director in 1989.

Gerry’s move to Irvine makes me happy for him, but I’m not particularly happy for myself. He and I have worked closely together as a team for over 12 years, and I have grown to depend on him. He has done an outstanding job. In this happy/sad situation, I prefer not to think about losing a deputy director colleague but rather about gaining an ARL director colleague. There is no one with whom I’d rather discuss library problems. As those of you who don’t know him will find out, he cuts through the crap and gets down to basic issues pretty fast.

Please join me in welcoming Gerry to the ranks of the ARL library directors. He will be a wonderful colleague and a valuable member representative in ARL.

Olivia Madison, Iowa State University, was introduced by Nancy Eaton, Pennsylvania State University. Ms. Eaton’s comments follow:

It is my great pleasure to introduce the newest ARL Director to you. Olivia Madison’s appointment as Dean of Library Services at Iowa State University was announced on campus last Friday, May 8th.

Olivia may be unique among us as having grown up at one institution, Iowa State, where her father was on the faculty, and where she has spent her entire professional career after earning her MLS from the University of Missouri, in 1975. It is still possible to become an ARL director by coming up through the ranks and having a love of a particular institution and place.

When I went to Iowa State in 1989 as Dean, Olivia was head of the Cataloging Department. Immediately recognizing talent, I very soon promoted her to Assistant Director for Public Services, anticipating the blurring of lines between units as networked information grew in importance. Two years ago, Olivia was promoted again to Associate Director for Public Services and Collections. This current academic year she has served as Interim Dean.

Along the way, Olivia served two terms as chair of the University Faculty Senate and, most recently, chaired the university committee that rewrote the university promotion and tenure guidelines, leading the discussion of post-tenure review. Of particular note is that her faculty peers on the committee selected her as chair. I am pleased to report that she was promoted to full professor in April of this year.

While staying anchored in the heartland, Olivia has satisfied her thirst for international adventure by being active in IFLA, including climbing over the barricades to get to her hotel in Moscow during the Russian coup, and being held at the Havana airport while waiting to see if Fidel Castro was going to let the American librarians out on one of the last planes allowed to leave Cuba for the U.S. Since the group was being led by Bob Wedgeworth, I had confidence she would get home. She did!

Please joining me now in welcoming Olivia Madison to ARL.

Recognition of Directors

Mr. Neal also acknowledged the contributions to the association of three ARL directors not present but for which this would have been their last meeting: Joe Boissé, University of California, Santa Barbara, Peter Lyman, University of California-Berkeley, and David Stam, Syracuse University.

Mr. Neal also recognized the extraordinary career and contributions to libraries of Arthur Curley, former director of the Boston Public Library and also former president of ARL. In honor of Arthur Curley, the membership stood for a moment of silence and respect for this exceptional leader.

Welcome from University of Oregon

Following welcoming remarks from George Shipman, University of Oregon, Mr. Neal introduced Duncan McDonald, University of Oregon’s Vice President of University Development who spoke to the gathering about the role of libraries in the current environment of higher education.

Recognition of the ARL Executive Director

Before closing the introductory session of the meeting, Mr. Neal surprised ARL Executive Director Duane E. Webster with an enthusiastic recognition, thanks, and celebration of his ten years of service as Executive Director of ARL.