May 2012

Miguel Figueroa leaves as director of the Office for Diversity and the Office for Literacy and Outreach Services June 8.

Leonard Kniffel, former American Libraries editor and publisher, retired May 31.

Hwa-Wei Lee, dean emeritus of Ohio University Libraries (OUL) in Athens, receives an honorary doctorate of philosophy degree from the university June 8. During Lee's reign as dean, the libraries became one of the founding members of OhioLink, endowments grew to over $8 million, a regional annex was built, digitization of collections began, and the the libraries exceeded the two million volume mark. He is now chief of the  Asian Division at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and remains active as a member of OUL's Capital Campaign Committee. 

Brad LaJeunesse, president of Equinox Software, is the 2012 recipient of the F. William Summers Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. The award is given on a selective basis as the faculty feels that a graduate has distinguished themselves in the field. He was the original visionary and advocate behind the Evergreen open source library automation software currently running in almost 1,200 libraries worldwide. 

Jane Hall, 67, retired library director of Montana State University (MSU) Billings, died May 28 of cancer. In addition to devoting her working hours to helping students and the library, she volunteered many hours raising money for the MSU Billings Foundation, served on the foundation board, and co-chaired for two years, with her husband, the Wine and Food Festival that supported student scholarships. As her retirement gift, the British-born Howell donated a bright red British phone to the library. 

Lillian Butler Lang, 82, English professor emeritus at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, and former high school librarian, died May 10 of cancer. She received the Alice Admire Outstanding Teaching Award from Fort Lewis in 1979. 

Erica Barditch Lilly, 50, associate professor at Kent (Ohio) State University Libraries, died May 22 from cancer. 

Marybelle Singer, 90, former librarian at Alburgh (Vt.) Library, died May 22 from complications of a stroke. She is credited with bringing more books and people to the library. 

Doug Achterman begins as library director at Gavilan Community College in Gilroy, California, in the fall.

May 31 Karen Armor retires as librarian at Santa Clara County (Calif.) Library's Campbell branch.