The President and Librarian of the Newberry Library, Charles T. Cullen, announced today his intention to retire.
"I am pleased to have had the honor of serving this great institution during a period of growth, especially in the areas of public involvement and technology," said Cullen. "I am confident it will continue to increase its role as one of Chicago's—and the nation's—greatest humanities resources."
Cullen has been president of the Newberry Library since 1986, forging an era of financial stability, academic accomplishment, and public access. During his tenure, the Newberry Library has seen its endowment increased from $27 million to $63 million, which has ensured support for active acquisition, emerging scholarship, the strengthening of staff positions and resources, and technological advancement.
"Because of Charles' leadership, his successor will inherit a fiscally healthy and intellectually vibrant library that is poised for the challenges of even greater access and growth," said Andrew W. McGhee, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. "Charles has made a significant contribution to the present and the future of the Newberry Library."
The past 19 years have seen the Newberry's annual attendance grow from approximately 10,000 to over 100,000 visitors. Renowned scholars, personal and professional researchers, teachers and students, and passersby come to use the collections, share in a diverse community of lifelong learners, and attend public programs organized by the department that Cullen instituted in 1993.
Under Cullen's stewardship, the Newberry was an early adopter of new technology, becoming one of the first independent research libraries to have a Web site and to network via a state-of-the-art intranet. Over the next two years, electronic access to the Newberry's resources will be further enhanced by the completion of its online catalogue, which will provide detailed information to the public at large on the Library's world-class humanities collections of 1.5 million volumes.
A search committee chaired by Newberry Trustee David Hilliard will work with Russell Reynolds Associates to name a successor. Cullen has agreed to stay on as president until his successor is in place.
The Newberry Library is an independent humanities library that is free and open to the public. The Newberry houses an extensive collection of rare books, manuscripts, and maps that span the history and culture of western Europe and the Americas from the Middle Ages through World War I. The Newberry offers a wide variety of exhibits, lectures, classes and concerts that relate to its collections. |
