On September 26, 2013, Dr. Elliott Shore, Executive Director of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), spent a full day visiting IU Libraries. After a morning learning about the libraries as an innovative destination where scholars from across campus and across the country come to collaborate with librarians and staff members to take their research to the highest levels, Dr. Shore engaged in a lively town hall discussion, answering questions ranging from what role ARL plays in professional development for library staff to how ARL influences policy debates about strengthening academic libraries. At one point Dr. Shore laughed, comparing the Q&A to when he went through his oral exam for his doctorate.
The day also included a discussion with Provost Lauren Robel, Dean Brenda Johnson, Executive Associate Dean Carolyn Walters, and others about new initiatives in scholarly publishing, a lunch meeting with Vice President Brad Wheeler and Beth Plale, director of the Data to Insight Center, and a tour of the Wells Library. The day also featured a tour and tea at the Lilly Library and a tour of the IU Cinema.
Dr. Shore’s day concluded with the opening reception of the Orphans Midwest Film Symposium where he met President Michael McRobbie and spoke with a number of other people involved in the orphan film movement.