Library under new supervision

Pearl Ly has been appointed Interim Assistant Library Dean at Shatford Library to replace former Library Dean Mary Ann Laun who retired last semester.

Laun was the Shatford Library dean for 15 years and was a librarian at the library for 15 years before that. Under her supervision, the library was recognized in 2008 by the Association of College and Research Libraries with the Excellence in Academic Libraries Award.

“I definitely have big shoes to fill,” saids Ly, who has been with the library for a year, yet has already done her part in improving services. Last year Ly took on a new software project to help students find library resources more quickly and easily. “We’re making sure that we continue to provide high quality service and support student learning,” said Ly.

“[Laun] had so many accomplishments that enriched the team that she built here, you can’t just pin point one,” said Library Secretary Jennifer Cooper.

For the upcoming year Ly hopes to work together with the library staff and make the environment for students the best it can be. “We want to work on keeping the library quiet, putting [in] more electrical outlets, study rooms, as well as study room reservations,” said Ly.

The Shatford staff insists that its main goals are to follow and stand by the library’s missions and polices, to make the library available to the best of their ability. “We are and will continue our mission, which is to commit the library to the PCC community,” said Library Technology Program Coordinator Krista Goguen. “Not many people have noticed the change of leadership, which is great.”

Yet with the school’s budget cuts Ly said her job has become quite difficult. “You have to make decisions that impact lots of people, especially with a reduced budget. I have been looking for grants and funding elsewhere,” said Ly.

Ly is not has not only taken the challenge of becoming Interim Dean but is doing so as well as being a full time student at UCSD as well as CSU San Marcos where she is working on her Doctorate in Educational Leadership.