Ivy Anderson to retire from UC in June 2021
It’s with excitement about a new adventure for a dear colleague – and some anticipatory grief – that I share with you news of an upcoming CDL transition: Ivy Anderson, CDL’s Collection Development & Management Director/Associate Executive Director, will be retiring from the University in June 2021.
Ivy’s contribution to the University of California, and to academic librarianship writ large, can’t be overstated. Ivy began her career at the Brandeis University Libraries, joined the Harvard University Library in 1998, and relocated to California in 2005 to join UC’s California Digital Library. Throughout every step of her career, Ivy’s passion and deep commitment to building and advancing access to world class scholarly collections in ways that are consonant with academic values has been paramount. Through her participation in national and international initiatives she built a global network of colleagues, demonstrating the deep impact of collaborative partnerships in pushing boundaries and developing innovative responses to library challenges. Most recently, Ivy’s efforts to transition UC’s systemwide journal licenses from subscriptions to open access, including developing sustainable financial models for large research-intensive institutions, has decisively advanced the University’s goal of providing immediate, free access to the research output of UC authors.
Preparation for Ivy’s June 2021 departure is well underway. Acknowledging the importance of the position to the UC Libraries and to CDL, we’ve petitioned and received Office of the President approval to begin early recruitment, starting November 2020. Our search will be nationwide and led by an executive search firm. The search and hiring committees will include campus representation, and our goal is to fill the position before July 2021.
Our search will embody our belief that by proactively promoting and embracing diversity in the ideas with which we engage, the collections we build, and the leadership we demonstrate, we reflect UC’s role in California, the nation, and the world. CDL’s commitment to sustainable open scholarship, and our commitment to the role of the UC Libraries in expanding the University’s capacity for innovation, knowledge creation and research breakthroughs, is unwavering, as is my personal commitment to these issues as CDL’s Executive Director.
All of you who know Ivy will not be surprised when I report that she intends her final year at CDL to be one of continuing accomplishment and collaborative leadership. I look forward to partnering with her, and with leadership from across the UC system, as we continue our work to develop strategies and implement solutions to the complex and emerging issues related to accessing, managing, and disseminating the scholarly record.
A broader celebration of Ivy and her impressive career is planned for when her retirement is imminent. Until then, I’ll limit my expression to one of heartfelt gratitude, respect, and anticipation of the year to come. Please join me in thanking Ivy for her contributions, vision, wise counsel, and exemplary dedication to the University of California Libraries, faculty, students and staff!
Günter Waibel, Associate Vice Provost & Executive Director, California Digital Library