Bookworms be ready, Cal Poly’s Kennedy Library is getting a new dean.
Michael Miller, a veteran librarian known for supporting research and instruction in higher education through the innovative use of emerging technologies, has been appointed the new dean of library services at Cal Poly.
Miller, who previously directed at the four Arts and Engineering Libraries and served as interim director of the three Health Sciences Libraries at the University of Michigan, will succeed Hiram Davis, who retired in June. Davis served as dean for 10 years before deciding to retire. Miller began his new position effective Aug. 14.
“Michael Miller’s vision, creativity and experience in planning and integrating technology into library resources will be a real asset to the entire university community,” said Cal Poly Interim Provost Bob Detweiler in a press release. “Michael’s leadership and innovative use of information technology will be vital in supporting our instructional and research efforts, especially as we focus on greater collaboration among academic disciplines.”
With the responsibilities of dean, Miller will oversee a professional staff of 13 librarians, 37 support staff and a budget of $5.2 million. He will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic plans for the evolving role of the library, which includes integrating digital resources and automating library systems and services.
Miller has been the director of the Arts and Engineering Libraries at the University of Michigan since 1995. His peers have considered him an innovator in the use of technology to collect and utilize information resources, and in creating virtual and physical learning environments.
“Academic libraries are in the midst of transformative change . and will continue to change for the foreseeable future,” Miller said.
Miller holds a very distinguished career in the librarian field. At the University of Michigan, Miller has served as interim director of the Health Sciences Libraries since 2004 and as interim director of the Science Libraries from 2003 to 2004.
While there, he worked closely with the information and academic technology staff in the Duderstadt Center, a 250,000 square-foot state-of-the-art “learning commons” facility. He has also served as University Center librarian at the Johnson University Center Library at George Mason University from 1994 to1995, head librarian at the J. Henry Meyer Memorial Library at Stanford University from 1987 to 1992, and was the founding director of the Avery Fischer Center for Music and Media at New York University from 1984 to 1987.