Searching far and wide revealed that the best person to head Duke’s libraries was already here. Administrators announced Dec. 21 that Deborah Jakubs, formerly director of collections services, would become the new Rita DiGiallonardo Holloway University Librarian.
Jakubs assumed her new post Jan. 4, also gaining the title of vice provost for library affairs. A scholar of Latin American Studies, the mother of a current Duke senior and a librarian here since 1983, Jakubs is familiar with the needs of the library’s many users.
“Having gone through a Ph.D. program and taught, I can understand how people use libraries,” Jakubs said.
As University librarian, Jakubs now directs all eight of the University’s libraries and the Center for Instructional Technology. Her predecessor, David Ferriero, took over Sept. 1 the position of the New York Public Library’s Andrew W. Mellon director and chief executive of research libraries.
“Duke was a hard place to leave,” said Ferriero. “I’m very pleased that someone of Deborah’s stature is replacing me.”
Jakubs was chosen to fill her new position from among three finalists, who also included Virginia Steel, director of libraries at Washington State University, and Susan Allen, associate director and chief librarian of the research library at the Getty Research Institute.
“One of the things that was most important to us was that our next librarian be able to represent the library well,” said professor of history Alex Roland, chair of the search committee. “[Jakubs] has a very strong national reputation, even international.”
Although Provost Peter Lange and President Richard Brodhead ultimately chose Jakubs based on the committee’s evaluations, Roland explained that extending the search beyond the University community was still of value.
“It was important, even for the internal candidate, to have the validation of a national search,” Roland said.
Jakubs’ career as a librarian began when a 1976 coup in Argentina delayed a planned trip to work on her dissertation. She said that while filling time by working in Stanford University’s library, she discovered the excitement of “helping other people do their work too.”
During her time as director of collections services, Jakubs encouraged the specialist librarians on her staff to maintain close ties with faculty in their subjects. She works hard to meet the University community’s needs, she said, even asking the opinions of library patrons she meets in line at the supermarket.
“The library’s not just sitting in the background,” Jakubs said. “We’re really active partners here.”
Activity is certain to characterize the next few years for the libraries. On the agenda are opening the new Bostock Library expansion in summer 2005, continuing renovations of Perkins Library and converting from the Dewey Decimal system to the Library of Congress system of classifying materials.
“One of the most exciting aspects of this Perkins project, as we call it, is the creation of the information commons,” Jakubs said. Extending out beyond the area behind the reference desk, the commons will offer resources ranging from technology to librarian assistance.
Jakubs’ appointment brings continuity that will help the libraries through this period of change, Roland said. “This is a time when the library really has a full plate, and she will be up to speed immediately.”
One challenge Jakubs will face during her tenure is the rising prices of library materials, particularly science journals. Her approach is to prioritize, she explained, by coordinating with the University’s academic program development and focusing on areas where the library system is traditionally strong.
“No research library now can afford to buy everything,” Jakubs said.
Brodhead and Lange both praised Jakubs in a Dec. 21 statement.
“Deborah is a scholar and proven administrator who will champion the interests of students as well as faculty,” Brodhead said.
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