UAF LIBRARY DIRECTOR ACCEPTS POST IN PRIVATE SECTOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 1996

Fairbanks, Alaska - Sharon West, director of libraries and information technology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Rasmuson Library since October 1994, has accepted a senior management position with WLN Inc., a private firm in Lacey, Wash., providing computing services to libraries and other institutions throughout the U.S.

The Rasmuson Library is considered one of the Pacific Northwest's major libraries, with more than 1.5 million book volumes and 20,000 serial and periodical titles. The library has developed the world's premiere collections of materials relating to Alaska and polar regions.

West has been with UAF since 1973 and is largely responsible for moving the Rasmuson Library into an integrated electronic information and delivery support system. West oversaw the development of SLED - the Statewide Library Electronic Doorway, which serves as Alaska's on-ramp to the information highway and provides a single, public access point for on-line information both within the state and beyond.

Another project developed by West is PolarPac, the first centralized CD-ROM database containing information about the North from more than 50 countries and the Antarctic.

"My time at UAF has been stimulating, exciting and challenging. It's difficult to leave, but I know that the outstanding people at UAF and the Rasmuson Library will keep it the center of excellence that it is," said West.

"I'm proud to have helped move the Rasmuson Library into an electronic library over a period of 20 years and to have helped automate almost all of the major libraries in Alaska, but I'm looking forward to helping libraries throughout the country enjoy the benefits of the electronic revolution," said West, a professor of library science who specializes in the computerization of libraries and the development of the electronic library and its impact upon communities.

West came to UAF from Texas Tech University in 1973. Prior to her appointment as director of libraries and information technology at the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, she served as head of reference and instructional services. She received her master's degree in librarianship from the University of Denver and has been published widely on the topic of library automation.

She replaced Paul McCarthy, now WLN Inc. president and CEO, as Rasmuson Library director in 1994. While at UAF, McCarthy and West worked together on a long-term project to coordinate polar information on an international basis. West is currently president of the Polar Libraries Colloquy board of directors, an international group overseeing polar information system development.

A nationwide search for a new library director will begin later this spring. West's last day at UAF is June 30.

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CONTACT: UAF Provost Jack Keating, (907) 474-7096, Rasmuson Library's Director of Libraries Sharon M. West, (907) 474-7224, or UAF Public Information Officer Debra Damron, (907) 474-7581.

DPD/5-6-96/96-77