Date: November 25, 2003
Contact: Michael Hopkins
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: m-hopkins@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, November 25, 2003 – Governors State University announced today that Professor Diane Dates Casey has been appointed as director of the University Library and coordinator of Academic Information Technology.
Governors State's Provost Paul Keys said, "We simply could not have found a candidate with a better track record for the position."
In addition to her duties at Governors State, Casey is an elected delegate to the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) Members Council, and she serves as chair for the Policy and Planning Committee of the Cataloging and Classification Section of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), the technology services division of the American Library Association.
She is also a member of the ALCTS Planning Committee and a former chair of the Subject Analysis Committee of ALCTS. She has served on the editorial board of the Illinois Reporter, the newsletter for the Illinois Library Association.
Casey was previously appointed as Governors State's interim director of the University Library and coordinator of Academic Information Technology in July of 2001.
Keys said that Casey's interim work resulted in significant upgrades and improvements to the university's library.
"Professor Casey's resourcefulness has been progressive and highly effective. She has secured several technology grants for the University Library," he said.
During Casey's interim service, the library assumed training responsibilities for all academic information technology within the university, from PC basics and keyboarding to research and resources.
The university's recent accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) relied heavily on Casey's maintenance of the library as the Professional Education Unit's technology center.
"NCATE accreditation is the preeminent credential for teacher education programs," Keys said. "You just don't get it without a superb technology center. Thanks to Professor Casey, we have an outstanding technology center, and she continues to improve it."
Casey has worked in the University Library since 1993, when she was hired as head of the cataloging services department and humanities librarian. Currently, Casey chairs the university's Information Technology Policy Council, which is guiding GSU toward digitized curriculum and smart classroom initiatives.
Casey lives in Oak Lawn with her husband, Dr. James. B. Casey, director of the Oak Lawn Public Library.
