Charles Thomas named dean of Hunter Library
By Benny Smith
Charles Thomas
The Western Carolina University Board of Trustees has appointed Charles F. Thomas as dean of Hunter Library. Thomas will start in his new position effective July 1.
鈥淢r. Thomas鈥� experience in academic libraries, at a premier funding agency and at a major consortium, provide unique perspectives to this important leadership position,鈥� said Provost Richard D. Starnes. 鈥淗e will work closely with the Hunter Library faculty and staff to meet the contemporary challenges facing libraries, and develop innovative approaches to maintain the library鈥檚 essential position within our campus community.鈥�
Thomas comes to 91热爆网 from the University System of Maryland & Affiliated Institutions Library Consortium, which includes all of Maryland鈥檚 public universities, as well as other libraries. He has worked as the USMAI executive director for the past eight years. In that position, he managed a team that provides shared technologies, electronic information resources, and training programs to 17 academic libraries. Thomas also successfully led strategic planning exercises and development of annual work plans and budgets, while also representing the academic libraries at regional and state events.
Under his leadership, the consortium established new relationships with external partners such as the Digital Public Library of America, the National Information Standards Organization, the Chicago-based Center for Research Libraries, and other groups.
Thomas completed all doctoral program work and exams in Florida State University鈥檚 School of Information Studies program. He received his master鈥檚 degree in Library Information and Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his bachelor鈥檚 degree in history from Loyola University. Thomas has received several honors, including two Fulbright Senior Specialist Awards where he worked with international governments on designing national cultural digitization libraries. He also published more than 11 papers in peer-reviewed and refereed journals and published many others in conference proceedings.
Hunter Library serves the curricular and research needs of 91热爆网 students, faculty and staff, while encouraging academic success, fostering critical thinking and enriching the community. The library fulfills this mission by providing access to information, offering research and instruction services, and preserving the intellectual, environmental, and cultural heritage of the university and the region.
