IU Associate Dean national ACRL leader
of Research and Learning Services
Erin L. Ellis, Associate Dean of Research and Learning Services at Indiana University, has been elected Vice-President/President-Elect for the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). Ellis will become president-elect in July 2021 and assume the presidency in July 2022 for a one-year term. Representing more than 9,000 individuals and libraries, the ACRL is the largest division of the American Library Association.
"I am deeply honored to be elected Vice-President/President-Elect of ACRL,” Ellis said. "My sincere thanks to the ACRL staff for their tremendous support and guidance, and deep appreciation to Emily Daly who shared and navigated the election process with me. I also want to extend immense gratitude to my fellow ACRL members who exercised their right to vote this year. I’m looking forward to joining my Board colleagues and getting to work on the issues that matter most to our community. We have tremendous opportunities ahead of us and it’s a true privilege to lead this association at such a pivotal time."
During her 16 years of ACRL membership, Ellis has served as chair of the ACRL Appointments Committee (2015-2017, 2018-2019), as a member of the ACRL Conference Invited Presentations Committee (2017-2019), as a member of the Research Planning and Review Committee (2019-2020), and as co-chair of the President’s Program Planning Committee (2014-2016, 2017-2019). She was chair of the Publications Coordinating Committee (2017-2018; vice chair, 2016-2017), during which time she served as ex-officio on the New Publications Advisory Board along with the C&RL, C&RL News, Academic Library Trends and Statistics Survey, CHOICE, Publications in Librarianship, RBM, and Resources for College Libraries editorial boards.
Ruth Lilly Dean of University Libraries at Indiana University, Carolyn Walters, congratulated Ellis. "Librarians have incredible impact when working together to create and sustain access to knowledge. This community has never been as important as it is right now, and I know Erin Ellis as a community-builder with vision. There could be no one better to lead us all forward in these next years and I look forward to supporting her efforts and celebrating the significant successes to come with her leadership," she said.
Ellis served as chair of the ACRL Student Learning and Information Literacy Committee (2012-2013), where she served on the working group for, and contributed to, the writing of the white paper “Intersections of Scholarly Communication and Information Literacy: Creating Strategic Collaborations for a Changing Academic Environment.” As chair, she facilitated the committee's transition from the Information Literacy Coordinating Committee to a committee representing one of ACRL’s four goal-areas within the Plan for Excellence.
"I am delighted to have Erin L. Ellis join the ACRL Board of Directors as Vice-President/President-Elect," said ACRL Interim Executive Director Kara Malenfant. "She has made valuable contributions to ACRL including serving on and chairing many committees, giving her direct insight into ACRL's strategy and operations. Erin’s knowledge of ACRL, academic librarianship, and higher education will be an asset to the Board as it continues to meet member needs and advance strategic priorities.”
Ellis has additionally held various positions with the ACRL Instruction Section (IS) including co-chair of the IS Awards Committee (2011-2013; member 2009-2011), and co-chair of the IS Membership Committee (2007-2009; member, 2006-2007; intern, 2005-2006.) She currently serves as co-chair of the ACRL University Libraries Section (ULS) Future of University Libraries Discussion Group (2019-present). Her activity with state, regional, and national associations includes serving as secretary of the ALA Library Instruction Round Table (2006-2007), where she was also a member of the Conference Program Planning Committee (2004-2006), and the Liaison Committee (2003-2004). She additionally served as a member of the Indiana University Arts and Humanities Council, the Indiana University LGBTQ+ Alumni+Friends Association (2020-present) and a member of the Indiana University Queer Philanthropy Circle (2020-present). Ellis was honored as an Association of Research Libraries Leadership Fellow (2016-2017), and was part of Beta Phi Mu, Emporia State University, School of Library and Information Management (2002), and Sigma Tau Delta, Pittsburg State University, Department of English and Modern Languages (1999).
Ellis’ publications include “Coaching Copyright: Best Practices for Teaching a Difficult Subject,” Smith, K.L. and Ellis, E.L. (eds). Chicago IL: ALA Editions (2019); “Positioning Academic Libraries for the Future: A Process and Strategy for Organizational Transformation,” Ellis, E. L., Rosenblum, B., and Stratton, J. in the International Association of University Libraries Conference Proceedings (2014); and “Comparing Approval and Librarian-Selected Monographs: An Analysis of Use,” Ellis, E., Ghouse, N., Classen-Wilson, M., Stratton, J. and Clement, S. in Darby Orcutt (ed.), “Library Data: Empowering Practice and Persuasion,” Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited (2010).
For full 2021 ACRL election results, visit the election section of the ACRL website.
The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) is the higher education association for academic libraries and library workers. Representing more than 9,000 individuals and libraries, ACRL (a division of the American Library Association) develops programs, products, and services to help those working in academic and research libraries learn, innovate, and lead within the academic community. Founded in 1940, ACRL is committed to advancing learning, transforming scholarship, and creating diverse and inclusive communities. Find ACRL on the web, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.