Spring Break
Faculty remembers Bryan for her services
Janhavi Purohit
Issue date: 1/9/09 Section: News
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Bryan was the director of libraries at Drexel University and was heavily involved with the Drexel Votes 2008 initiative.
According to Mark Greenberg, interim provost and senior vice president of the Pennoni Honors College, Bryan was "instrumental" in developing and expanding the University library, as well as the library for the Earle Mack School of Law.
"She was also involved in setting up the café in the library, and in utilizing the library spaces better," Greenberg said.
Greenberg added that with the expansion of the library's electronic resources, Bryan aided in drawing up plans to better utilize library space and reducing the amount of printed matter needed in the library.
Dorothy Schwartz, interim director of libraries at Drexel added that Bryan also focused on "underdeveloped" areas of the library, including resources for majors such as political science and the arts.
"She also put the focus back on collecting print materials where needed," Schwartz said.
One of Bryan's main projects at Drexel was the Drexel Votes 2008 initiative.
"Drexel Votes was her big thing," Schwartz said.
Greenberg worked closely with Bryan on Drexel Votes and said Bryan was at the "forefront" of the project.
"She was, in typical fashion, trying to reach out and have the library in a more active role doing things and creating programming that would benefit the entire campus," Greenberg said.
According to Greenberg, another of Bryan's accomplishments was the way she treated her duties as a librarian.
"What really impressed me about Jane Bryan is that as soon as she got the job here three years ago, she made an appointment to see every dean - I think she took them all to lunch, and she asked them what their needs were," Greenberg said. "Whatever we asked her for, she was very responsive and concerned. She took the initiative; she was proactive about finding what people needed."
Schwartz added that Bryan always had input and interaction, and was always enthusiastic about her work.
"In Jane's view, the library becomes a center for collaborative learning, for collaborative work," Schwartz said.
Schwartz added that Bryan was always ready to "drop everything" if a student or patron was in need.
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