The Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, announced on June 16 that he has selected Deanna B. Marcum as associate librarian for Library Services, effective Aug. 11.
Marcum served as director of public service and collection management at the Library of Congress from 1993 to 1995, when she was appointed president of the Council on Library Resources and president of the Commission on Preservation and Access. She oversaw the merger of these two organizations into the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) in 1997 and has served as its president since that time.
"Dr. Marcum has led a number of institutions with distinction in nearly all areas of librarianship, including integrated library systems, preservation, access, collections security, acquisitions and technological change," said Billington. "Her experience uniquely equips her to integrate the emerging digital universe into the traditional artifactual library. Her innovative leadership in building national and international coalitions and in developing strategies for change in the new technological environment will serve the Library of Congress well as we build a national digital library for the 21st century."
In accepting this position, Marcum said: "This is a transformational period for all libraries, including the Library of Congress, as we adapt to the influences of digital technology. I am honored that the Library has placed its trust in me to assume this leadership role, and I am thrilled with the opportunity to help the Library at what promises to be a defining historical moment."
In his announcement of Marcum's appointment, Stanley Chodorow, chairman of the CLIR board, said, "Dr. Marcum is a leader in the international library community. She has brought CLIR to the forefront in research and action on topics of greatest importance to the future of libraries and the management of information."
Chodorow noted that, during her tenure at CLIR, Marcum conducted surveys of campus information users, academic libraries' preservation programs, and economic models for sustaining cultural heritage institutions. She helped launch the Digital Library Federation and the Frye Leadership Institute, of which she is co-dean.
"Dr. Marcum has been a leader in developing innovative programs to improve preservation of and access to information resources worldwide," Chodorow said.
Billington acknowledged the many contributions of Beacher J.E. Wiggins, who has served as acting associate librarian for Library Services since June 19, 2002. "During the past year, Beacher has worked tirelessly to effect a smooth transition from Winston Tabb's departure," Billington said. "With his good sense and keen knowledge of the Library of Congress and the larger library community, he has been a steadfast advocate of the work and staff of Library Services and has served us all well. I am grateful to him for his generous support and cooperative spirit, and I look forward to his continuing as director for cataloging."
From 1989 to 1992, Marcum was dean of the School of Library and Information Science at The Catholic University of America, and she was vice-president of the Council on Library Resources from 1981 to 1989.
Marcum's publications include three books: "Development of Digital Libraries: An American Perspective" (Greenwood Press, 2001), of which she was editor and contributing author; "Good Books in a Country Home: The Public Library as Cultural Force in Hagerstown, Maryland, 1878-1920" (Greenwood Press, 1994); and "Online Acquisitions for Libraries," with Richard Boss, in Library Technology Reports (American Library Association, March/April 1981).
Among Marcum's many articles about information technology, preservation, access and other matters are "Technology's Payload" in EDUCAUSE Review; "Defining ‘Common Good' in the Digital World" in Proceedings for the American Philosophical Society; and "Access: Does it Matter?" in iMP.
Marcum holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Illinois (1967); a master's degree in library science from the University of Kentucky (1970); and a doctorate in American studies from the University of Maryland (1991).
