Media Advisory

TO:                    News Editors and Education Reporters

FROM:                Rasmuson Library Director Search Committee

SUBJECT:           Finalists Named for Top UAF Library Post, Community Forums Set

LOCATION:         Rasmuson Library, Level 2

DATE & TIME:     March 10, 13 and 31; 4:30 p.m.

Site visits have been scheduled for three finalists selected to fill the position of Director of Libraries and Information Technology at the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, considered one of the Pacific Northwest's major libraries with more than 1.5 million book volumes and 20,000 serial and periodical titles.

A nationwide search for candidates took place following the resignation of Sharon West last June. West left UAF to become a senior manager with WLN Inc., a private firm in Lacey, Wash., providing computing services to libraries nationwide.

The finalists being considered for the top UAF library post are Thomas Leonhardt, professor of bibliography and coordinator of electronic information services at the University of Oklahoma, Norman; Lawrence W. McCrank, Learning Resource Center director of the ITT Technical Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Paladugu Rao, dean of library services at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg.

Each candidate will give a public seminar in the Rasmuson Library Media Classroom beginning at 3:30 p.m. followed by a reception at 4:30 p.m. on Level 2 of the library. Leonhardt's presentation is March 10, McCrank's is March 13 and Rao's is March 31.

FOR MORE INFORMATION contact: Rasmuson Library Interim Associate Director Diane Ruess (907) 474-6349 or UAF Public Information Officer Debra Damron (907) 474-7122.

DPD/3-6-97/97-062ma