Nitecki appointed library dean, iSchool professor
Loren McFalls
Issue date: 10/23/09 Section: News
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Nitecki said that she accepted the position because Drexel has had a long standing respect for librarianship and the profession's contributions to development of an educated citizenry.
"There is keen interest for Drexel to provide leadership in bringing theory and practice together to evolve new service models for the 21st century library," she said.
According to Nitecki, "The appointment offers me challenging opportunities to help shape how a university library can engage with faculty, students and staff in the academic enterprise and to do so within a collaborative and supportive environment."
"I decided on Dr. Nitecki following a national search and after interviewing the three finalists selected by a University Search Committee chaired by Dean David Fenske," Greenberg said.
Nitecki has served as an associate university librarian at Yale since 1996, but is now moving to Philadelphia.
Marshall Fleming, a junior marketing and entrepreneurship major, said, "From the Yale name alone it seems like a good move. Hopefully [Nitecki] can bring some perspective to the Drexel library system."
According to Greenberg, a library is a critical learning and research resource and students should be concerned with who is in charge because well-designed libraries are great aids to reflection, study, and group work.
"Part of a university education involves learning how to identify, access, and assess information, and librarians are the best guides through that process," Greenberg said.
Travis Longenbach, a sophomore materials engineering major, said Hagerty Library could use more computer areas.
"A good library opens us to the world of accumulated and accumulating knowledge, provides guided trails through that world, and helps us become educated professionals and citizens," Greenberg said.
Nitecki also stated that there was a part of her that was drawn to give back to her alma mater for the terrific foundation it provided.
She said she thinks that there might be a different motivation among students for pursuing a Drexel education in terms of libraries.
"Its strong co-op component emphasizes practical objectives less clearly articulated at other schools," Nitecki said. "That might make the libraries' offerings to extend education beyond the classroom more appealing to students."
Nitecki has plans for Drexel's library system.
"The arrival of a new administrator creates a moment to review what the libraries are doing, and update directions to be both responsive to clientelle and imaginative about potential contributions to their research and learning," Nitecki said.
One of her first tasks will be to get acquainted with stakeholders across campus and talk about expectations and possibilities for the Drexel Libraries.
Nitecki wanted an appointment in the iSchool as part of her coming to Drexel University. She has the appropriate Ph.D and publication record, so the school was able to hire her as a professor of information science.
"With her appointment may come a new era of even closer collaboration between the iSchool and the University Libraries, an idea I find very attractive," Dean David Fenske said. "We welcome the addition of Dr. Nitecki to the faculty of the iSchool."
Nitecki has also held administrative positions in the libraries at the University of Maryland at College Park, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
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