K. Matthew Dames will assume the role of interim dean-designate of the Syracuse University Libraries on July 1.

Dames, who has served on the library’s senior leadership team since August 2008, will follow Suzanne Thorin in the position. Thorin announced in February she will step down. Her last day as dean and university librarian will be June 30, according to a Tuesday SU News release.

Dames is currently the interim associate dean for research, collections and scholarly communications at the library. He was also SU’s first copyright and information policy adviser – Thorin appointed him director of the library’s Copyright and Information Policy Office in December. In this position, Dames has been responsible for educating SU students and faculty about copyright, licensing and policy issues relevant to teaching and research, according to the release.

In 2011, Dames became the first African-American to earn a doctorate from SU’s School of Information Studies, according to the release. He also received the school’s doctoral prize that year for his research on U.S. copyright law.

Dames said his background in this area will help him with his new position.

The dean of libraries is responsible for managing the university’s access to scholarly resources, Dames said, and the contracts that regulate access to these resources have strong copyright policies. In addition, copyright issues pertain to the library’s ability to offer further access to resources through online streaming and other non-traditional methods.

Dames said he has had a close working relationship with Thorin in his four years at the library, and hopes to continue expanding the foundation she has created. He said he will continue to work with her, as well as Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina and library staff, to ensure a smooth transitional period.

“Any time there’s a change in leadership, the new person is going to come in and assess what, if anything, needs to be changed,” Dames said. “Part of what I will need to do, in conjunction with Dean Thorin and the provost, is to see what issues are going to continue past Dean Thorin’s term and how we are going to react to those issues.”

In addition, Dames’ appointment comes at a transitional period for libraries in general, when access to resources is no longer limited to physical buildings.

“We’re in an interesting time with respect to libraries, generally,” he said. “We’ll have to address questions like, ‘What is the meaning of a library — a university library — in the 21st century and how does this library evolve to meet the changing needs of all the constituents?’”

This is a task Dames is capable of, Spina said in the release.

“Dr. Dames is widely respected within the library and has contributed significantly to the University,” Spina said in the release. “With his diverse educational background and professional experience, Kevin is well-positioned to lead the library as it enters a period of transition.”

Published on March 5, 2013 at 11:05 pm