University of California introduces new leader for Systemwide Library Facilities

Today, the UC Berkeley Library and the UC Libraries are introducing the inaugural leader for the University of California’s Systemwide Library Facilities, which collectively preserve and share millions of treasures held by the constellation of libraries across the UC system.

On Jan. 2, Shari Laster will become associate university librarian and director of Systemwide Library Facilities. In this role, Laster will oversee SLF-North and SLF-South — UC’s expansive storage complexes in Richmond and Los Angeles, respectively — and will lead the efforts to fulfill the long-term physical preservation and access needs of all of UC’s libraries.

“I am thrilled to join the University of California as part of this new era in managing its extraordinary collections,” Laster said. “I look forward to working closely with experts at the Systemwide Library Facilities and throughout the UC Libraries, as well as with systemwide partners, to ensure long-term access to these scholarly resources.”

This hire supports UC’s continued commitment to efficient, sustainable access to scholarly materials, even amid constrained campus budgets and rising costs. With Laster as director, the facilities will complete their transition from regional repositories managed by UC Berkeley and UCLA to service centers overseen by the UC system.

Laster comes to the role from Arizona State University, where they serve as the head of Open Collections Curation & Access and interim associate university librarian. At ASU, Laster provides leadership for community-focused collection development, digital repository management, and specialized collections services. They have led complex projects, including the relocation of more than 800,000 volumes during the renovation of the university’s largest library, and have served as project coordinator for a Mellon Foundation-funded initiative exploring data-driven approaches to collections design. 

Previously, Laster served as a government information and data services librarian at UC Santa Barbara and a government documents and reference librarian at the University of Akron. They earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007. Laster brings extensive experience in collaborative collection management and shared print programs, serving as vice chair of the Executive Committee for the Western Regional Storage Trust.

Learn more about what’s next for the facilities, and read an FAQ about their united future.

NOTE: This article was originally published on the UC Berkeley Library website. View the post here: https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/news/slf-director