The NC LIVE Nomination
Committee is very pleased to announce the appointment of Rob Ross as NC LIVE
Executive Director, effective 14 September 2015.
Rob Ross joins NC LIVE from
OCLC, a global library cooperative, where he most recently served in a
leadership role as Director of Implementation Programs. At OCLC, Ross led the
team responsible for working with member libraries of all types to successfully
implement new technologies, redesign library workflows and measure ROI. He
continuously engaged with libraries to identify their most pressing needs and
create services to meet them. He also collaborated with libraries to tell their
stories publicly at conferences and in publications.
At OCLC, Ross gained experience
in marketing; program development; talent management; new business development;
partnerships; consulting; and member outreach, which will serve him well in his
new role as Executive Director.
Before joining OCLC, Ross
served as Interlibrary Loan Supervisor and Adjunct Professor of English at
Bentley University. He holds an MLIS from Kent State University, an MFA from
the University of New Orleans, and a BA from Ashland University.
Among his professional
activities, Ross has presented at IFLA, ALA, Internet Librarian, and the
Charleston Conference. His publications include “Library Technologists as
Agents of Change,” in Computers in Libraries, “Risks of Moving to the Cloud:
The Human Factor,” with Petra Duren, at the 80th IFLA General Conference and
Assembly, and “Shadow of the leader: How library leaders undermine or bolster
change efforts," with Petra Duren at the 36th Annual International
Association of University Libraries Conference.
I would like to thank the other
members of the Nomination Committee, Ruth Ann Copley (Public Libraries COI
Representative); Suvanida Duangudom (Community Colleges COI Representative);
Cal Shepard (State Librarian and Ex-Officio member); who worked so diligently
to find a new Executive Director for NC LIVE.
We believe that Rob Ross brings
the leadership NC LIVE needs to continue to strengthen resources and services
for NC libraries. I know Rob is eager to meet all of you and to work with you
to serve our state.
