Lorraine Haricombe, dean of libraries at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, has been named the new dean of libraries at KU.

Haricombe will oversee KU's extensive library system, which serves more than 25,000 students and 1,300 faculty members.

"Lorraine understands the challenges and opportunities of research libraries everywhere, as well as how critical collaboration and partnership will be to libraries' ongoing work of transformation as they prepare for the future," said Denise Stephens, vice provost for information services. "She is equally mindful of the central historical place of libraries in the culture of research universities."

Noted for her strong leadership and communication skills as well as her talents in building collaborative relationships, Haricombe has been dean of Bowling Green's libraries since 2001. At Bowling Green, a university with 20,000 students, Haricombe oversaw a library system that is a campus leader in providing access to technology, digitizing information and promoting cultural diversity through its programs, services and exhibits.

She previously served in administrative positions in the libraries at Northern Illinois University and Peninsula Technikon in the Republic of South Africa. She holds doctoral and master's degrees in library and information science from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. She also holds a teacher certification from the University of South Africa, an honors graduate degree in library and information science from the University of the Western Cape in South Africa and a bachelor's degree in library and information science, psychology and sociology from the University of the Western Cape.

A South Africa native, Haricombe holds memberships in the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Library Administration and Management Association and the Association of American University Women. She is on the editorial board of Communicate, Journal of LIS (Nigeria), the editorial board of the Beta Phi Mu Monograph Series, the Service Quality Academy (LibQual+) selection committee and the the 2006-07 ALA conference planning committee.

"I feel humbled and honored to be named dean of the KU libraries," Haricombe said. "This is an exciting time to join the KU leadership. I look forward to building on the strengths and expertise of the library faculty, staff and the campus community as we work together to make KU libraries a point of pride."

Haricombe will begin work Aug. 1. She succeeds Stella Bentley, who has served as dean since 2001.

"Lorraine Haricombe's wide and rich variety of experience, including an active role with the nation's best library consortium, OhioLink, will provide new opportunities for the KU libraries," Provost David Shulenburger said. "We are delighted to have her as the latest in a long list of distinguished librarians to hold this post."

Richard Lariviere, KU's incoming provost, also praised Haricombe.

"I am delighted that Lorraine Haricombe will be joining KU," Lariviere said. "The libraries are the life-blood of great universities, and Haricombe brings to the job a sophisticated understanding of the complexities and challenges of preserving and disseminating the staggering amounts of new knowledge at our fingertips."