Camila A. Alire, Ed.D.

Dean of University Libraries
University of New Mexico

Dr. Camila Alire is Dean of University Libraries at the University of New Mexico. Previously, she was Dean Emeritus at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado and was Dean/Director of Libraries at the Auraria Library, University of Colorado at Denver for six years. She received her doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Northern Colorado, holds an M.L.S. from the University of Denver and a bachelor of arts degree from Adams State College. She is the 2005-2006 President of ACRL and served as the National ACRL Conference Chair for 2005. She has chaired several ALA Committees, served on four ALA President's Special Advisory Task Forces and on ALA Council and Executive Board. She was president of REFORMA in 1994/95 and was named REFORMA Librarian of the Year in 1997. Her research focuses on library services for Latinos and other minorities, on library disaster recovery, and on recruitment and retention of minorities in the library profession and in higher education. She has presented workshops and talks on library marketing, leadership development, library advocacy, and on library services to Latino communities. She co-authored Serving Latino Communities and contributed to and edited a second book Library Disaster Planning and Recovery Handbook. She was chosen to be included in the ALA/ALTA National Advocacy Honor Roll 2000. In 1999, she was named Scholar-in-Residence for the Chicago Public Library System. She was awarded the first ALA Elizabeth Futas Catalyst for Change Award and National REFORMA's Librarian of the Year in 1997. In 1998, she was named by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the country.

Joan Giesecke, Ph.D.

Dean of Libraries
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Dr. Joan Giesecke is Dean of Libraries at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). She joined UNL in 1987 and was appointed dean in 1996. Prior to becoming dean, she was the Associate Dean for Collections and Services. She has held positions at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, Prince George's County Memorial Library System in Maryland, and the American Health Care Association. She received a doctorate in public administration from George Mason University, an M.L.S. from the University of Maryland, a master's degree in management from Central Michigan University, and a B.A. in economics from SUNY at Buffalo.

Giesecke's research interests include leadership, organizational decision-making and management skills. She is the author of numerous articles on leadership and management issues and has published in several journals, including Library Administration and Management, Journal of Library Administration, College and Research Libraries, and SIGOIS Bulletin. She served as the editor of Library Administration and Management journal from 1994-1996. Her books include Practical Help for New Supervisors (Chicago: American Library Association, 3rd edition, 1997), Scenario Planning for Libraries (Chicago: American Library Association, 1998), Practical Strategies for Library Managers (Chicago: American Library Association, 2001) and Fundamentals of Library Supervision (Chicago: American Library Association, 2005).

Giesecke is a member of the Graduate Faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has a courtesy appointment in the Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication department in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She has taught courses in management and in leadership and gender issues. Giesecke has taught several courses for the Emporia State University School of Library and Information Management, Nebraska and Colorado programs, including Information Transfer and Knowledge Diffusion, Research Methods, and Management.

Giesecke is an active member of the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) and served as President of LAMA, 2001-2002. She currently serves as President of the Homestead Girl Scout Council in Lincoln, Nebraska.

James G. Neal

Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian
Columbia University

Jim Neal is currently the Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian at Columbia University, providing leadership for university academic computing and a system of twenty-five libraries. He works with the Electronic Publishing Initiative at Columbia (EPIC), the Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL), Digital Knowledge Ventures (DKV), the Office of IT Planning and Policy, and the Office of IT Research and Development. He serves on key academic, technology, budget and policy groups at the University. Previously, he served as the Dean of University Libraries at Indiana University and Johns Hopkins University, and held administrative positions in the libraries at Penn State, Notre Dame, and the City University of New York. At Columbia, he has focused in particular on the development of the digital library, special collections, global resources, instructional technology, building construction/renovation, and fundraising programs. Neal has served on the Council and Executive Board of the American Library Association (ALA), on the Board and as President of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and as Chair of OCLC's Research Library Advisory Council. He currently is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Research Libraries Group (RLG), on the Board of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO), and on the Board of the Freedom to Read Foundation. He has also served on numerous international, national and state professional committees, and is an active member of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA).