The Once and Future Library

In T.H. White's Once and Future King, the powerful magician Merlyn serves as young Arthur's tutor and mentor.  He helps prepare Arthur for his future role as King by advising him to "learn why the world wags and what wags it." Merlyn's belief that learning is "the only thing that never fails" is at the very core of American higher education.  

In this presentation, Anne R. Kenney, Carl A. Kroch University Librarian, will trace factors that have transformed higher education and the research library during her tenure. In offering observations on the occasion of her impending retirement, she will affirm that learning--through formal education, research, and lifelong experiences--is at the heart of what "wags" Cornell's library now and in the future.

Anne R. Kenney became the Carl A. Kroch University Librarian at Cornell University in 2008. Active in the archival and preservation communities, Kenney is known internationally for her pioneering work in developing standards for digitizing library materials and research into digital preservation issues. She serves on the boards of the Council on Library and Information Resources and HathiTrust, and the visiting committees for MIT libraries and the Center for Jewish History. She is a fellow and past president of the Society of American Archivists and former board member for the Association of Research Libraries. She served as a commissioner of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (National Archives), the National Science Foundation/European Union Working Group on a Digital Preservation Research Agenda, as a member of the Clinton/Gore Transition Team, and has testified before a Senate subcommittee on government affairs.  She is the co-author of 3 award-winning books and over 50 scholarly articles and reports. Last year she won the prestigious Hugh Atkinson Award from the American Library Association for her leadership in research and library management.

6:00-6:30pm reception; 6:30pm lecture, gratis. Advance reservations required. Members and guests are invited to dine at The Club with Anne Kenney following the lecture. The cost is $40 per person, inclusive of tax, gratuity and one glass of wine with dinner. Dinner reservations are required 48 hours prior to the program. Same-day cancellations and no shows will be charged.