Catherine Steeves has been named Western university librarian, university officials announced this afternoon. Her five-year term begins Aug. 18.
Steeves arrives at Western from the University of Guelph, where she is presently the deputy chief information officer (CIO) and associate chief librarian (ACL).
As deputy CIO, Steeves develops the overall strategy and policy administration of the university’s information technology, services and resources. As ACL, she oversees library operations, including learning and curriculum support, discovery and access, archival and special collections, information resources and information technology services, in addition to a shared responsibility for strategic and budgetary planning processes, personnel and financial administration.
Steeves has participated in the Association of Research Libraries Research Library Leadership Fellows Program, as well as the Northern Exposure to Leadership Institute’s programs as a participant, facilitator and, most recently, as a mentor.
She has served as a board member of the Canadian Library Association and the Ontario Library Association; past president of the Ontario Library Information Technology Association as well as chair of the Ontario Council of University Libraries’ Scholars Portal Committee and member of its Planning and Assessment committees.
“With your support, Catherine will provide creative and effective leadership for Western’s Libraries,” said Janice Deakin, Western’s provost and vice-president (academic). “I would like to take this opportunity to thank members of the Selection Committee, and the faculty, staff and students who provided comment and counsel during the university librarian search process.”
To the position, Steeves follows Joyce Garnett, who retired as university librarian in 2013. Robin Keirstead, university archivist archivist, has served as interim university librarian during the search process.