Laura Costello was appointed Rutgers University Libraries’ new Director of Strategic Planning and Assessment, effective October 10. Laura came to RUL from Stony Brook University Libraries in 2018 as our Virtual Reference Services Librarian. In 2021, she was promoted to Research and Instruction Services Coordinator. Laura brings to this leadership position a set of skills informed and honed by her responsibilities here at Rutgers and by her previous roles as Head of Research and Emerging Technologies at Stony Brook University and Head of Library Materials and Acquisitions at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Laura has been an integral part of the implementation, administration, and training activities for several of our current data collection platforms, including Alma analytics and Springshare’s LibAnswers and LibInsight. She was also instrumental in the implementation of Leganto. This past year, she stepped in and took on the responsibility for compiling and submitting RUL’s statistical data for the ACRL, ARL, and IPEDS surveys in the absence of a full-time assessment person.
Her interest in assessment is evidenced by her body of scholarship. She has written and presented on library topics such as reference, space programming, and collections with a focus on assessment. A productive scholar, Laura has authored or co-authored three books, seven book chapters, and over 20 peer-reviewed articles and other publications. Laura is currently the managing editor for the Virtual Reference Bibliography and serves as a peer reviewer for Evidence Based Library and Information Practices. Her interest in assessment methods has led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Communication, Information, and Media at Rutgers with a focus on Library and Information Science. She expects to complete her degree in 2024.
Her record of service to the Libraries, the University, and the profession is extensive; the following are some highlights. On the national level, her activities include being a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance Virtual Reference Peer Group since 2020 and the LITA Assessment & Research Committee since 2016, for which she has served as Vice-Chair and Chair. Laura has been actively engaged in the governance structure and informing Libraries operations as Vice Chair of the Faculty Planning Committee and a member of the RUL Scholarly and Professional Activities Committee.
James “Jim” Robinson retired from Rutgers University on September 1, 2022. Jim has been an essential member of Rutgers University Libraries for over 36 years, so he will be greatly missed. We have all benefited from his dedicated service, detailed knowledge, and wonderful sense of humor.
Jim in his familiar black attire, July 2022 (photo by Dennis Mark/Rutgers University Libraries).
Jim began his career at Rutgers in 1986, briefly working at the physical plant warehouse and quickly transitioning to the libraries a few months later. Having family already working at the libraries (Jim’s mother worked in the processing department for Technical Services), pursuing a career at Rutgers was a natural step. He quickly considered his coworkers to be more like family than just other employees, and he developed a deep passion for the labor movement and student political organization. Pursuing a degree while working at the university, Jim developed an interest in Architectural Historic Preservation. Beginning at Rutgers, Jim later attended Bucks County Community College, which operated one of the top Historic Preservation programs, obtaining his degree in 1999.
His career at Rutgers brought him to join Special Collections & University Archives for six years, applying his interest in Historic Preservation to managing the logistics of our most unique collections. He later joined the New Brunswick Libraries’ Shipping and Receiving Department—serving in an indispensable role for years to come. At Shipping, Jim developed close relationships with many of our faculty and staff across all library locations while serving as a core member on the front line of maintaining our day-to-day operations. After the Return to Rutgers plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jim was one of the first employees to return to our buildings five days per week, visiting each building daily and providing a pivotal service enabling the strength of our recovery. Both remotely and after returning, he contributed to our digital newsletter each week—his weekly song playlist was an early step in reconnecting our community to each other.
An example of Jim’s eclectic song playlists, which colleagues enjoyed during the pandemic.
Outside of work, Jim has a strong passion for music, being classically trained in multiple instruments for over 35 years and having produced and promoted a music series for over two decades. In retirement, Jim plans to utilize his experience to continue being a tour manager for musicians around the globe, working with various artists through the hundreds of relationships he has built through the years. He plans to devote more of his time to his love of music and supporting those in the industry, both new and experienced artists alike.
Jim also plans on volunteering at The Raptor Trust, an organization that provides care for injured birds of prey and education to the public. Being passionate about the outdoors and wildlife, he also plans to spend time at The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, one of his favorite locations for bird watching and to quietly enjoy his love for reading and books. If he discovers more “free time” after embracing his wide variety of interests, he has discussed working part-time at a bookstore or a public library.
Jim in the NBL delivery van, his “second office.”
We thank Jim for everything he brought to Rutgers and shared with our community. We will miss Jim’s dedication, historical knowledge, humor, and excellent music recommendations. We wish him the best in his future endeavors and are excited to see the next steps he takes on his journey.
From August 11–13, a group of scholars met in New Brunswick to work on a new book. Tentatively titled, In Search of True Ways: Rutgers and Japan during the Early Meiji Period, this book is being edited by Haruko Wakabayashi of Rutgers’ Department of Asian Languages and Cultures and Fernanda Perrone of Rutgers University Libraries Special Collections and University Archives (SC/UA). This project is unusual in that it combines scholarship written in English with that written in Japanese, giving a broad perspective and bringing to light much new information.
Judy Cohn, Assistant Vice President for University Libraries and Associate University Librarian at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) Libraries, retired on September 1, 2022. Her retirement serves as the final milestone of an illustrious 40+ year career that began at the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Rutgers Medical School, Raritan Valley Hospital, and culminated at Rutgers University Libraries (RUL).
Judy Cohn at Alexander Library, August 2022 (photo by Dennis Mark/Rutgers University Libraries).
Judy received her BA (1975) and MLS (1976) from Rutgers University. She started her career as an Assistant Librarian at the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (CMDNJ) Rutgers Medical School, Raritan Valley Hospital in Greenbook, NJ, where she oversaw its collection development and management of its audiovisual collection, along with some public services responsibilities. Her career trajectory aligned with the growth of what is now RBHS, as she moved from positions held at CMDNJ Greenbrook to the University Medical Center in Stratford, NJ, before settling in Newark. During this period, Judy also nurtured and guided aspiring health sciences librarians as an adjunct faculty member with the Rutgers University School of Communication and Library Studies. Within a few years of arriving in Newark to serve as the Director of the George F. Smith Library of the Health Sciences, she began her ascent up the leadership ladder at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). She was promoted to Assistant University Librarian and Director for UMDNJ–Smith Library, then Acting University Librarian for UMDNJ. Before the merger, she was the Associate Vice President for Scholarly Information/University Librarian for UMDNJ for 11 years. In 2013, Judy became a part of the Rutgers University Libraries team as the result of the merger of Rutgers University and UMDNJ.
Her contributions to the Libraries, the University, and the library profession are substantial. Below are just a few examples:
Judy stewarded the UMDNJ Libraries throughout the UMDNJ/Rutgers University merger and the subsequent integration with the Rutgers University Libraries. In the aftermath of the integration and before the dust settled, she emerged as an invaluable member of the RUL Leadership Team, marshaling a talented and illustrious group of committed RBHS librarians and staff who fully immersed themselves in the RUL organization. In 2018, she organized the highly successful Scholarly Research Symposia for the RBHS faculty. Throughout the years, Judy had been called upon on multiple occasions to serve as Cabinet liaison to a Libraries working group, task force, or committee, including the Discovery Work Group, the Research and Scholarly Environment Working Group, and most recently, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Judy was a major contributor to the execution of the Resetting the Rutgers University Libraries plan in her role as the Assistant Vice President for University Libraries. She readily took on additional tasks to help the organization move forward, demonstrating her commitment to the success of RUL. Judy was a critical part of planning and implementing the team-building sessions for the RUL Leadership Team led by a group from the University’s Center for Organizational Leadership. Likewise, she was an instrumental partner as we collaborated with the re:work consultants, who led a group of our RUL colleagues through a strategic process resulting in drafts of new mission and aspirational statements. The consultants also conducted an organizational structure review of our Libraries. These are but some examples demonstrating Judy’s exceptional competence and effectiveness as a leader.
Judy’s expertise in Medical and Health Sciences librarianship was recognized by her colleagues at RBHS, where she served on the New Jersey Medical School Clinical Curriculum and Pre-Clinical Curriculum Committees. She boasts an extensive and illustrious history of professional service at the regional and national levels. Judy has led preeminent organizations in her field, serving as President of the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, President of the Health Sciences Library Association of New Jersey (HSLANJ), and Chair of the VALE Executive Committee (VALEnj). While these leadership roles are indicative of her reputation and the esteem in which she is held in the profession, she has also been recognized by her peers for her contributions to the field with numerous awards, including the Health Sciences Librarian of the Year award from HSLANJ and the Distinguished Service Award from the UMDNJ School of Health-Related Professions.
Retirement Party
On August 26, 2022, the Libraries hosted a retirement party for Judy at Calandra’s il Vecchio Cafe in Caldwell, New Jersey. More than 30 colleagues, family members, and friends attended to celebrate her remarkable career. Special guest speakers, including Judy’s husband (Lee), sister (Sara), and daughter (Jesse), regaled the audience with humorous stories and tales of Judy’s impressive accomplishments. Colleagues also took the opportunity to express their happiness and gratitude for Judy’s leadership and friendship.
Judy enjoyed her “Still the Boss” ornament.Happy retirement, Judy!Judy with family, friends, and colleagues.Judy talks with guests at her retirement party.Vice President for University Libraries and University Librarian Conseulla Askew (left) presents Judy with a Proclamation of Gratitude for her 40+ years of service.Judy with members of the Rutgers University Libraries Leadership Team (from left: Dee Magnoni, Associate University Librarian at Rutgers–New Brunswick Libraries, VPUL/UL Conseulla Askew, Judy, Interim Associate University Librarian at Rutgers–Newark Rhonda Marker, and Director of Communications Dennis Mark).
John Brennan was promoted to Senior Executive Assistant to the Vice President for University Libraries and University Librarian (VPUL/UL), effective August 6, 2022. John had ably served in this role in an interim capacity for seven months and will continue to be an asset to the Office of the VPUL/UL and the Rutgers University Libraries administration.
John has been with the Libraries since 2005 as a Senior Administrative Assistant for Technical and Automated Services (TAS), where he managed an assortment of diverse functions that included budget monitoring and reporting, facilities management, project management, and oversight for work-study students. In his new role, John will provide diversified and confidential support to VPUL/UL Consuella Askew and her office in a wide range of library-wide strategic areas. Among his new responsibilities, he will be the primary point of administrative contact for the VPUL/UL and the University Libraries for internal and external constituencies, manage my schedule, and will provide oversight and management for the administrative suite of the University Libraries.
After almost 40 years of dedicated service to the New Brunswick Libraries, Nita Mukherjee retired on August 1, 2022.
Over the last 30+ years, Nita worked at multiple locations across Rutgers University, Rutgers University Libraries (RUL), and New Brunswick Libraries (NBL). She started her career at Rutgers in 1982, working in the Data Control Department in the Administrative Services Building (ASB) on the Busch campus. In the mid-1980s, she joined the Circulation Department of the Douglass Library to start her career with RUL/NBL. During her time with RUL/NBL, Nita contributed greatly to the work at Copy Cataloging in the Library Technical Services Building (TSB), the Libraries Annex Access Services, Alexander Library Access Services, and Douglass Library Access Services. Finally, in 2008, she began her time managing the Chang Science Library on the Cook campus.
Nita is retiring as Branch Coordinator for the Stephen and Lucy Chang Science Library, a site she managed for the past 14 years. She made the Chang Library a warm and inviting location for students, faculty, and staff. She worked with countless undergraduate students over the years, both in her role as the site’s Student Coordinator and as the first contact at the circulation desk onsite. Nita thrived when helping students and faculty, bringing a mix of compassion, professionalism, and dedication to her work to these interactions.
Nita and her husband of 46 years, Arun, plan to continue living in the area. She looks forward to spending time with her family, her two daughters with careers in law and medicine, and her five grandchildren. She will devote more time to traveling, volunteering, and two of her long-standing passions: gardening and reading.
President Jonathan Holloway and Executive Vice President Prabhas Moghe make historic appointment for new leader of Rutgers University Libraries
Rutgers University has selected Dr. Consuella Askew as its new Vice President for University Libraries and University Librarian. On July 18, 2022, she became Rutgers’ 15th University Librarian and the first person of color in the institution’s 256-year history to hold the position.
“President Holloway and I believe that under Dr. Askew’s leadership, Rutgers is well suited to chart a strategic direction for Rutgers University Libraries, especially with a view to closely aligning the libraries to enhance the goals of academic units,” Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabhas Moghe said. “A part of this work will involve centering the Libraries at the heart of our community and our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; optimizing the Libraries’ collections, personnel, and services to enrich the teaching, learning, and research that occur across the University; establishing organizational coherence across the Libraries; and developing a strategic plan—all values that President Holloway has articulated.”
Rutgers University Libraries is a core component of the University’s academic mission. The Libraries’ faculty and staff provide access to vast and unique resources, archives, and expertise to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, advance faculty and student teaching and research, and empower student success. Rutgers University Libraries rank among the nation’s top research libraries with more than five million volumes, over one million digital resources, and 26 integrated libraries, centers, and reading rooms throughout Rutgers campuses and chancellor-led units.
Leading the Way to Library Excellence
Askew brings to Rutgers a rich set of experiences and a library career that spans nearly 30 years. She is a forward-looking academician who has served as Interim Vice President for University Libraries and University Librarian since May 2021. In her previous role as the Associate University Librarian for Rutgers–Newark, Askew led Dana Library through a strategic planning process, a multimillion-dollar renovation, and an organizational restructuring to encourage innovation, community engagement, and operational excellence.
A Commitment to Higher Education
Prior to Rutgers, Askew worked in various educational settings, such as public schools, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), community colleges, and private and public institutions. Askew served as the Associate Dean for Public Services at Florida International University Libraries and held leadership positions at the City University of New York (CUNY), where she was appointed the inaugural Chief Librarian for the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. She was also a member of the research and development team that created LibQUAL+ for the Association of Research Libraries. This industry-standard tool is used to assess user perceptions of library service quality and has been adopted by over 1,300 libraries worldwide, including Rutgers. An active contributor to the academic libraries profession, Askew serves on the executive board of the HBCU Libraries Alliance and the editorial board for the award-winning journal portal: Libraries and the Academy. Askew has published and presented widely on cultivating library leadership, developing a culture of library assessment, and adapting library services to meet evolving user needs.
Askew holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Spelman College and a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of North Carolina. She earned her doctoral degree in higher education from Florida International University. She is also an alumna of multiple prestigious library leadership programs, including UCLA’s Library Senior Fellows Program, the longest-standing formal leadership development program for librarians in the country.
Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway with Maggie Harris-Clark at the 2022 Rutgers Staff Service Recognition Reception in the President’s Tent on Bishop Place (photo by Nick Romanenko/Rutgers University)
After an extraordinary 50 years of service to the John Cotton Dana Library, Maggie Harris-Clark retired on July 1, 2022.
Maggie began working at Rutgers University in January 1972. It was a cold and clear day. The temperature eventually climbed to 34 degrees, from a low of 10 degrees. William T. Cahill was governor of New Jersey, and Kenneth A. Gibson was Mayor of Newark, the first African American Mayor of Newark. Edward Bloustein was president of Rutgers University, and Horace Depodwin was Acting Provost, succeeded by James Young, the first Provost of Rutgers-Newark. Thomas Shaughnessy was the director of Dana Library. Maggie would work with several more directors: Eugene Neely (1981), Lynn Mullins (1987), Mark Winston (2008), and Consuella Askew (2015), as well as several interim directors (most recently, Jeanne Boyle and Rhonda Marker). Maggie also served under 10 University Librarians/Interim University Librarians.
Maggie in her Dana Library office, ca. 2009
Initially, Maggie worked at the Rutgers Law Library (Newark) in the Government Documents Department in a grant-funded position for six months. She then spent another six months at Dana Library in the Technical Services Department before Dr. Shaughnessy hired Maggie full time. Maggie worked for another long-time Dana Library employee, Madeline DeSantis, to maintain the card catalog and the shelf list. At that time, the library was using physical library cards to charge out books, but progress took over and advanced to using keypunch cards. Maggie transferred to the Circulation Department to work in course reserves for almost 10 years under the supervision of Mrs. Mann. About 20 years ago, Maggie was promoted to a Library Supervisor position in Circulation. Maggie is retiring as the head of Access Services at Dana Library. She has successfully navigated many changes from implementing the first automated circulation system through our current Ex Libris products. She has represented Dana Library on many cross-campus groups, including the Fulfillment Working Group.
Although Maggie spent all her years at Rutgers on the Newark campus, she could be counted on to participate in Libraries-wide events. She has many friends throughout the Libraries who will miss her irrepressible optimism and kindness.
Reflecting on her five decades at the university, Maggie fondly said, “Rutgers was my home away from home. I enjoyed working with my colleagues to advance the Libraries’ mission and to ensure our faculty and students received excellent service.”
Maggie in the Dana Library’s new third-floor open study space, June 2022 (photo by Dennis Mark/Rutgers University Libraries)
This past June, President Jonathan Holloway and the university honored Maggie at the Rutgers Staff Service Recognition Reception. “I very much appreciated the recognition and respect,” Maggie remarked. “It’s wonderful knowing that I made a difference in the Rutgers community.”
In retirement, Maggie plans to continue being active in her church and the Eastern Star. Her pastor has already announced her expanded role to the congregation. She has many plans for volunteer work and is looking forward to doing more at home. She is especially looking forward to the birth of her first great-grandchild in August. As busy as she will be, Maggie promises to keep up with her friends at Rutgers.
We wish Maggie a long and happy retirement and express our warmest appreciation for her many years of steadfast service to Dana Library and Rutgers University.
Ermira Mitre, a Library Technician at Smith Library, published her second poetry collection in May. Written in Albanian, LOTUS was featured at a book launch in Ermira’s hometown of Durrës, Albania, and a book fair in Kosovo.
Local writers, poets, and poetry enthusiasts attended the book launch organized by Ermira’s publisher and the Durrës public library. Several writers critiqued LOTUS, and four poets read from the book. A local news station’s segment about the event can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=hkqJAU0NpgY.
Ermira Mitre is a bilingual poet, essayist, and translator. Her poetry has appeared in various international and national poetry anthologies and journals, including Jerry Jazz Musician, Red Wheelbarrow Poets Journals, THE POET Anthology Series, Live Encounters, Kistrech Poetry Festival, Mediterranean Poetry, and Montclair Write Group. She published her first book of poetry, Soul’s Gravity, in Albanian and translated the fiction novel The King’s Shadow from Albanian into English. Currently, Ermira is writing her first English poetry collection, Blooming as a Sacred Lotus, as well as a bilingual anthology (English and Albanian).
Bobbie Tipton in Alexander Library, August 2022 (photo by Dennis Mark/Rutgers University Libraries)
Roberta “Bobbie” Tipton retired from her position as business librarian at Dana Library, effective July 1, 2022.
Bobbie started at Dana Library in 1985, hired as a reference librarian (business). Before coming to Rutgers, she began her library career as a medical librarian at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, and as a corporate librarian at the Hayden Publishing Company. She is that rare breed that maintained her core responsibility to business librarianship throughout her 37-year career at Rutgers. In 1994, Bobbie added liaison responsibilities for the School of Public Affairs and Administration. Following Ann Watkins’ retirement, she provided library support for Rutgers University–Newark’s nursing program. She is a co-liaison to the Honors Living-Learning Community. She added to her business credentials by earning her MBA from the Graduate School of Management (Rutgers–Newark) in 1993.
Bobbie Tipton assisting a student.
Over the years, Bobbie mentored and worked alongside business librarian colleagues Ka-Neng Au, Wen-Hua Ren, and Jonathan Torres. She has authored and co-authored numerous articles and book chapters. Her latest article, “Statewide Access to Business Databases: States, Libraries and Support for Small Business,” co-authored with Ka-Neng Au, was published in Journal of Business and Finance Librarianship in August 2021. She has been a frequent presenter at various conferences, including Virtual Academic Library Environment (VALE), New Jersey Library Association (NJLA), and Special Libraries Association. At the last in-person NJLA conference in 2019, Bobbie presented as part of a panel along with two other Dana colleagues on the topic, “Focusing Student Engagement with Graded Assignments,” She received the NJLA/College and University Section Research Award twice, once in 1991 and again in 2018.
Bobbie has served in state and national professional associations and others, including the boldly named BRASS (Business Reference and Services Section) of the American Library Association, where she is currently a member of the Business Information Sources Committee. Her service to Rutgers includes faculty committees, campus committees (Newark Pandemic Flu Planning Committee, 2007–2009), and search committees. She is a member of the Collections Strategy Task Force and, until recently, served on the Advisory Committee on Appointments and Promotions. It is only coincidental—but in keeping with her dedication—that Bobbie’s last day in the office was spent interviewing a library faculty candidate as a search committee member for the Criminal Justice Librarian position.
From left: Bobbie Tipton, Bonnie Fong, the late Krista White, and Minglu Wang celebrate their New Jersey Library Association Research Award in April 2017.
Above all else, Bobbie thrives when she helps students and faculty. She is the author of many research guides—and the heir to almost as many; the count is up to 145 active LibGuides. She produced short videos to introduce and guide users through some of these videos. She has been a regular presence at the Dana Library Reference Desk and on the Ask a Librarian schedule. She provided uncounted instruction sessions to Rutgers Business School and School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) classes and the Writing Program at Rutgers–Newark.
Bobbie’s delightful humor brightened our libraries and meeting rooms. It will not surprise many that she compiled “Humor and Work: A Selected Bibliography” for The U*N*A*B*A*S*H*E*D* Librarian (1994). She has been an indefatigable librarian, devoted to student success, and generous to her colleagues. Bobbie will bring all these qualities to her continued work with learners of English as a second language in her community.
