CONTACT: MELVIN O. SHAW
100 Old Public Library
Iowa City IA 52242
(319) 384-0010; fax (319) 384-0024
e-mail: melvin-shaw@uiowa.edu

Release: Jan. 25, 2000

Search committee announces five candidates to head UI Libraries

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Iowa librarian search committee has announced it will bring five candidates to campus over the upcoming weeks to discuss their qualifications to become the next university librarian to direct the UI's Main and 11-branch libraries.

Former librarian Sheila Creth stepped down last month to begin a consulting business. Barbara Dewey, director of information and research services, took over as interim librarian on Jan. 1. No date for each candidate to appear on campus has been set, but should be made soon, says Barbara Eckstein, search committee chair.

The five candidates are:

Nancy Baker, director of libraries, Washington State University. Baker was formerly the associate director of libraries for public services at the University of Washington;

Stella Bentley, dean of libraries at Auburn University. Bentley is a former assistant university librarian for collections and information services at the University of California-Santa Barbara;

David Kohl, dean and university librarian, University of Cincinnati. Kohl was most recently head librarian, University of Colorado-Boulder;

Wendy Pradt Lougee, associate director, University of Michigan Library for Digital Library Initiatives. Pradt Lougee is the former head of the Graduate Library at the University of Michigan; and

Lance Query, dean, University Libraries, Western Michigan University. Query is a former acting university librarian and assistant university librarian for planning and administration at Northwestern University.