William Gosling recommended as director of University Library

ANN ARBOR—William A. Gosling, interim director of the University Library at the University of Michigan since 1997, will be recommended as director of the Library to the U-M Board of Regents at its Nov. 19-20 meeting.

In announcing the recommendation, U-M Provost Nancy Cantor noted that during the national search for a director she “found tremendous support for the leadership role our Library has taken in forging a coalition between the traditional archival role and the emerging role of digital libraries. In the course of this process, I also discovered wide-ranging national and local support for Bill Gosling as our Library director.

“As interim director, Bill has exhibited the skills and attributes that we were seeking in the person who holds this vital University position. He knows the changing world of libraries and library services, and is a compelling advocate for the special contributions of a great research library.

“I am pleased that Bill is willing to take on this task,” Cantor added. “He is committed to providing the support necessary to ensure that we remain at the forefront of the changing library world, and to preserve the centrality of the library in the academic and scholarly mission of the University.”

Gosling noted that “this is an exciting time in the history of great research institutions, which need to respond to the different expectations of students who have grown up in an electronic environment.

“We have great challenges ahead as we manage the transition to provide access to digital and electronic volumes while sustaining current formats to meet the needs of our student and faculty researchers.

“At the same time, we must respond to changes in curricula, such as new courses, interdisciplinary instruction and support for distance education.”

Gosling came to the U-M in 1986 as assistant director for technical services and library systems following work at the Duke University Library and the Library of Congress.

He holds a B.A. degree in history from Bates College and an M.L.S. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Gosling is active in a number of library organizations, including the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, Digital Library Federation, Michigan Research Libraries Triangle and the American Library Association, as well as serving on the editorial boards of Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory and the Journal of Internet Cataloguing. He also is a member of the advisory board of the Faxon Institute.

University LibraryNancy CantorCommittee on Institutional CooperationU-M News and Information ServicesUniversity of Michigan