Title: Ford Library Director
Library/Department: Ford Library, The Fuqua School of Business
Location: Breeden Hall, The Fuqua School of Business
Years at Duke: 26
In a nutshell, what do you do at Duke University Libraries?
I’m the Director of Ford Library, one of Duke’s four independent professional school libraries. I provide leadership and direction for the Ford Library, developing long- and short-range plans to design and implement library programs and services. I provide oversight and guidance as needed to a team of professional librarians and paraprofessional staff; and represent the Ford Library to the faculty, staff, and administrators of The Fuqua School of Business, other Duke Libraries, Duke University, the TRLN (Triangle Research Library Network) Library consortium, and professional associations such as the Academic Business Library Directors Group. I also lead and manage a specialized team that licenses and deploys data and online research resources requested by researchers; create access procedures, write documentation, and provide data extractions or conversions when requested.
If you had to pick one thing, what’s the best part of your job so far?
Working and collaborating with our Ford Library staff and the staff and leadership of Duke Libraries. I find it especially satisfying to work closely with researchers, vendors, and colleagues across Duke Libraries to connect researchers to the resources they need.
What’s the best thing you’ve read/watched/listened to recently?
Reading: David Downing’s “Station” historical fiction novels focused on an Anglo-American journalist living in Berlin prior to, during, and after WW2.
Watching: “The Man in the High Castle” on Amazon Prime
Listening: “Honestly” – a podcast hosted by Bari Weiss
What do you like most about living in The Triangle?
Almost everything except the humidity in the summers!
What do you like to do outside of work?
Hiking and cycling, reading for pleasure, and singing sacred choral music
