The university's struggling library system has found a new leader.
Patrica Steele, currently the dean of Indiana University's libraries, was named Dean of Libraries Thursday and will take over on September 1.
In a press release, university President Dan Mote described the hire as "a coup" and said Steele's "name is magic in the field."
The release describes Steele as a technological innovator. She is part of a team of academic librarians working with Google to make the world's books available online.
In her new role, Steele will have to work to turn around a library system that, according to a University Senate report, lags behind those of the university's peer institutions in terms of journal subscriptions and amount of information amassed. Rising journal costs, coupled with stagnant state and university funds, have placed the libraries in a budget crunch.
Steele replaces Desider Vikor, who had been serving as interim dean after Charles Lowry stepped down as dean of libraries last April.
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