Michael Vandenburg named Interim Executive Director of Ontario Council of University Libraries
May 12, 2021
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Queen's Associate University Librarian Michael Vandenburg has been appointed Interim Executive Director of the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL), effective May 1, 2021. The position is a one-year secondment.
As Interim Executive Director, Vandenburg will lead OCUL’s mission, vision and strategy within a dynamic context, overseeing the consortium's planning, administration and operations. This includes liaising with leaders of OCUL member institutions to identify the common goals of members and shape priorities for technology and service activities provided by the consortium as it undergoes a governance renewal process.
“Michael’s appointment is a tribute to his impactful and collaborative efforts as the Queen’s representative within Ontario’s 21 university libraries who are responsible for governing OCUL. It also highlights the impressive knowledge and expertise he regularly demonstrates in his work here at Queen’s as the Interim Vice-Provost and University Librarian and Associate University Librarian,” says Mark Asberg, Vice-Provost and University Librarian. “In this new role, Michael’s contributions to this important consortium will surely benefit us as a library, as a university, and as members of the larger academic community in Ontario.”
Vandenburg joins OCUL following 12 years at Queen’s University Library, most recently serving in Acting and Interim Vice-Provost & University Librarian (VPUL) roles since January 2019. During that time he provided leadership for the library and the university through a period of significant change, navigating the many operational changes required throughout the pandemic.
“Michael has provided exceptional leadership to the Queen’s library system, and I’m particularly grateful for his work over the past year in guiding the library through the many challenges brought on by the pandemic,” says Mark Green, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). “His expertise and thoughtful leadership have benefited the university and the library immensely, and I wish him well in his new position as OCUL’s Interim Executive Director.”
During his time at Queen’s University Vandenburg has been deeply engaged in the collaborative efforts of OCUL, helping to establish the Ontario Library Research Cloud and Collaborative Futures and serving on a wide variety of groups contributing to academic library services for students and faculty across Ontario.