Butler takes on new role at Fondren

Butler takes on new role at Fondren

BY JENNIFER EVANS
Rice News staff

As Rice University’s Fondren Library transforms itself physically and virtually into a research library for the 21st century, Diane Butler is on the job to ensure the technology infrastructure meets the ever-changing needs of scholars and students.

Earlier this month, she assumed the role of assistant university librarian for library systems, a new position at Fondren, with responsibilities that include overseeing the library’s information technology operations and collaborating with Rice’s Division of Information Technology.

In an age where library computers perform an ever-expanding number of functions, digital collections and archives grow almost daily and library resources are called on for remote availability, Butler will help IT staff appreciate the unique needs of the library and help the library staff understand the resources they depend on for their work.

“Rice students and faculty are looking for a library that is on par technologically with other top universities, and that’s what we’re working to offer at Fondren,” Butler said. “Part of my role as assistant university librarian is to help the staff evolve with the workplace, remain an integral part of the academic community and be comfortable with any new technology coming in. I want to try to solve any IT issues and make people feel that the technology is there to help in their jobs, not interfere with them,” she said.

Chuck Henry, vice provost and university librarian, is delighted to welcome Butler to Fondren. “Technology is really only one facet of her job. Our interests include the ways technology is transforming the workflow and, by extension, changing the library culture at Rice,” he said. “Diane’s background in working with the library over the years and proving to be an astute observer of these changes and an articulate problem-solver made her an ideal choice.”

As assistant university librarian for library systems, Butler will lead and manage the library systems team; collaborate with Fondren staff and administrators to develop and implement technology solutions in all areas of the library; and work closely with IT to stay informed about university-wide initiatives and plans. Aiding her in this task will be her solid ties to Rice’s IT division: She worked in IT for 11 years, first as training coordinator and then as manager of client services for academic and research computing. “I’m going to be a dotted line back to IT,” she said.

Butler is looking forward to advancing the library’s digital environment. She was already helping Fondren in this respect through her work for the past three years on the Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive, which explores the scholarly uses of the foundation’s digital archive of approximately 117,000 hours of videotaped testimony from Holocaust survivors and witnesses. This project, which she volunteered to help on, gave her an opportunity to “get back into working with faculty and their curriculum, which I absolutely love,” she said, adding that this new job is a perfect blend of working on these types of digital projects and curricula as well as managing people and overseeing technology.

“I’m excited about the new opportunities,” she said. “I really think I can make an impact.”