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Retirement of University Librarian Gerald J. Munoff

Dear Colleagues,

Gerald J. Munoff, University LibrarianUniversity Librarian Gerald J. Munoff has decided to retire in April 2010, concluding 12 outstanding years of service as a dynamic, transformational leader of the UCI Libraries.

Munoff came to UCI from the University of Chicago in 1998 to oversee UCI's library system comprising the Main Library, the Science Library, the medical library, and the Gateway Study Center. Under his visionary leadership, the libraries have grown from two million to more than 3.1 million volumes, with current subscriptions to 54,000 print and electronic journals.

Due to his efforts, the Main Library was renamed the Jack Langson Library in recognition of a gift from the Newport Beach entrepreneur and the medical library was renamed the Forest J. Grunigen, M.D. Library. The libraries' physical spaces and services were dramatically transformed to respond to changing user demands and information technologies, and increasing numbers of community members were welcomed to the library for lectures and exhibits. All areas of the Libraries benefited from the significant increase in named library funds and the substantial growth of the Library endowment. Munoff formed highly successful academic partnerships with faculty and students and founded SPIRIT, which prepares local high school students for Munoff Retirement Partysuccess in higher education, work and life, as well as SCAMP which promotes scholarly communication issues. He also reached out extensively to the business community, offering new services in research expertise and customized information in a variety of subject areas.

Munoff has made substantial and innovative contributions to critical library initiatives including the Google digital project, Open Access, and the UC Melvyl catalog; he also chaired the UC Shared Library Facilities Board and served on UCI's Undergraduate Task Force and the UC Information Technology Guidance Committee. Most recently, he provided expert guidance in the establishment of the UCI Law Library.

Plans for an interim replacement will be announced in the coming months. On behalf of our faculty, staff and students, I extend my deepest gratitude to University Librarian Munoff. His contributions have resulted in an exceptionally strong library system which will be treasured by all of us in the years to come.

Michael R. Gottfredson
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

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