CARLI Executive Director Susan Singleton to Retire in July 2016

Susan Singleton, CARLI Executive Director and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Illinois, will retire in July 2016. Singleton, who has held the position since January 2006, was the first Executive Director hired after CARLI was created from the merger of the Illinois Cooperative Collection Management Program (ICCMP), the Illinois Digital Academic Library (IDAL), and the Illinois Library Computer Systems Organization (ILCSO). 

"The decision to retire was difficult, but it is the right one for me at this time," said Singleton. " It has been an honor to work with the staff and directors of the academic libraries in the state and with the CARLI staff throughout this first decade of CARLI’s existence."

Singleton worked with CARLI staff and member libraries to ease the transition following the consortial merger, building upon the strengths of the legacy consortia to create a strong, independent identity for CARLI. Under her leadership CARLI has continued to grow and develop. Since 2006, I-Share has expanded from 65 libraries to 84 libraries, and e-resource spending by participating libraries has grown by 300%. In addition, CARLI has partnered with the Open Content Alliance to provide a digitization opportunity for Illinois academic and research libraries; contributed leadership, support, project management to the open source eXtensible Catalog Project; launched VuFind as an open source alternative discovery interface for I-Share catalogs; launched pilot projects for consortial purchase on demand for print and e-books; and has begun the search for a new integrated library system.

"The tremendous impact Susan has made on libraries across the state simply cannot be measured. She will leave CARLI/I-Share with a strong foundation poised for future initiatives," said Felice Maciejewski, Chair of the CARLI Board of Directors and University Librarian at Dominican University. "There are not enough words to thank Susan for her determination and wisdom in making CARLI one of the best library consortia in this country."

Prior to her 10 years serving as CARLI's Executive Director, Singleton was Director of the Center for Library Initiatives at the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC). She began her library career as a reference librarian at the University of Missouri-Rolla where she advanced to Head of Reference and Collection Development. Her career has included work with all types of academic libraries, including 10 years as the Executive Director of the Missouri Library Network Corporation (MLNC). As Executive Director of the MLNC consortium, she worked closely with the Missouri State Library and the MOBIUS academic library consortium on joint projects; negotiated group pricing for electronic resources; and instituted and led the Missouri Digitization Planning project.   

"It is several months before I leave and I will be busy trying to wrap up as many projects as possible," Singleton added. "I look forward to continuing our important work over the next year, as we plan for CARLI’s second decade. I have no doubt that the incredible CARLI staff and Board of Directors, working with the truly outstanding CARLI community, will ensure a smooth transition for CARLI's future."