Cline Named New College Librarian

Nancy Cline, dean of University Libraries at Pennsylvania State University and a national leader in the research-library community, will become the Roy E. Larsen Librarian of Harvard College in September, subject to final approval of the Governing Boards.

Cline will succeed Richard De Gennaro, who retires on Aug. 31 after six years in a position centrally important to research here and around the globe. As the Librarian of Harvard College, Cline will oversee operations affecting hundreds of special collections and two-thirds of the nearly 13 million volumes in the University Library, the world's largest academic library system.

A member of groups such as the National Digital Library Federation of the Commission on Preservation and Access, Cline has for nearly two decades led efforts to adapt electronic technology to the needs of academic libraries. She currently serves as president of the Association of Research Libraries.

At Penn State, Cline has been responsible for the seven libraries at University Park and those at each of the institution's 20 other campuses. She has played a central role in bringing the latest electronic technology to a library system housing more than 3.5 million volumes as well as extensive holdings of maps, microforms, government publications, computer databases, and audiovisual materials. Such efforts brought her Penn State's 1994 Award for Administrative Excellence. She also holds the 1980 Award for Outstanding Contribution to the University Libraries.

Cline has raised funds for constructing a new library, increased the library endowment, and helped develop Penn State's first strategic plan for academic computing. She has also chaired the University's Council of Academic Deans.

This week, Cline explained some of the factors that prompted her to take the job here and shared a few first impressions of her new environment.

"Without a doubt, I am attracted to the richness of the collections at Harvard, collections which have been carefully nurtured over centuries," she said. "There is an unparalleled commitment to developing collections of depth and breadth, to acquiring a range of library resources which match the University's academic aspirations."

During several recent visits, she has sought out the perspectives of various Harvard groups on library issues, "particularly in terms of how the libraries might change in the future." Conversations with faculty, staff, students, and administrators made it clear that "Harvard truly values its libraries, and that the University will continue to expect outstanding collections and services in the years ahead," she said.

Cline was also "impressed with the enthusiasm and pride shown by Library staff as they described the special responsibilities entrusted to them to develop, manage, preserve, and expand the use of the traditional collections while at the same time engaging in exciting initiatives which will stimulate the development of 'digital libraries.' There is both an appreciation for the distinct history of the Harvard College Library and an understanding of its responsibility to shape its future.

"I look forward to the opportunity to lead the Harvard College Library into the 21st century, building upon a legacy that is renowned among research libraries and using fully the potential of its librarians and staff to fulfill the information needs of a broad range of instructional and research programs within the University," she said. "It is an honor to receive this appointment and to be entrusted with the stewardship of this great research library."

In announcing the appointment last month, FAS Dean Jeremy Knowles welcomed Cline's arrival at a time when the library must "cherish and expand" its traditional printed collections while integrating "the exploding availability of information in new forms." Cline brings "deep experience and skill to the challenges that now face every major academic library," he said.

Sidney Verba, director of the University Library and Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor, noted that "there is no position as important to the success of scholarship at Harvard as the position of the Librarian of Harvard College. We are extremely lucky that Nancy Cline will be taking on that position. She has the capacity to keep the Harvard College Library the preeminent research library in the nation."

History Professor William C. Kirby, chair of the search committee, explained that Cline's "extraordinary record as a library director and her standing at the top of her profession" prompted the committee to recommend her for the job. Equally important were "her sound judgment, subtle intelligence, calm presence, and exceptional capacity for leadership."

Born in Chambersburg, Pa., Cline earned both her B.A. (1968) and Master of Library Science (1970) degrees at the University of California, Berkeley. She began her career in 1970 as a Penn State documents librarian. The following year, she began a nine-year term as head of the Government Documents Section. She then served as chief of the Bibliographic Resources Department until 1984, when she became an assistant dean and head of Bibliographic Resources and Services. She has served in her current position since 1988.

Cline has shared her expertise with agencies and institutions such as the Library of Congress, the U.S. Government Printing Office and Public Printer, the Office of Technology Assessment, and the National Research Council. On behalf of the 55,000-member American Library Association, she has testified before governmental agencies and committees.

Through such activities, Cline has helped shape policies that affect access to online informational resources and define directions for the research and educational components of the nation's information infrastructure.