Virginia Steel, UCLA’s next university librarian, said she plans to focus on overcrowding and expanding technology when she come to campus this summer, with more than a decade of experience with the University of California already under her belt.
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott Waugh announced today that Steel, the current university librarian at UC Santa Cruz and the UC Council of University Librarians, will begin work as UCLA’s University Librarian on July 15, according to a statement released today.
“Ms. Steel brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise and perspective to this critical role,” Waugh said in the statement.
Before working at UC Santa Cruz, Steel served as director of libraries at Washington State University and participated in a Council on Library Resources academic library management internship while working at UC San Diego.
She said the she plans to spend her first few months getting to know the UCLA community and better understanding what it expects from the library system.
“The field is evolving very rapidly because of the impact that technology is having on it,” she said in an interview. “UCLA does have a very impressive digital library but there is always more to be done.”
Another one of her aims is adding seating to places such as Powell Library, she said.
Steel is set to replace current university librarian Gary Strong, who held the position for a decade
During his tenure, Strong oversaw the renovation of the Charles E. Young Research Library and dealt with fluctuating funding problems – including a $1.9 million budget cut in 2009, according to Daily Bruin archives. His fundraising efforts helped keep alive programs such as Night Powell, a program that allows students to stay in the library past normal closing hours.
Compiled by Erin Donnelly, Bruin senior staff.