Colorado State University Names New Dean of Libraries

Colorado State University Provost Peter Nicholls today named Catherine Murray-Rust as the new dean of University Libraries. Murray-Rust currently is associate university librarian for Public Services and Innovative Technology at Oregon State University.

"Catherine Murray-Rust brings to us a wealth of experience in library administration," said Nicholls. "We believe she will provide important leadership in an area that has a strong tradition of innovation at Colorado State. She is widely respected and has an excellent track record in computing systems, project management and outreach."

At Oregon State, Murray-Rust shares in policy decision making, organizational planning, budgeting and expenditure monitoring. She serves as the senior administrator for the reference department, access services department, library technology department, university archives and records, special collections and the Guin Library. She also manages the digital library development program.

Prior to her tenure at Oregon State, she served for 21 years in reference services and library administration at Cornell University, where she was promoted through four academic librarian ranks. Her duties included overseeing public services, information technology development, program planning, public relations and fundraising.

Murray-Rust will begin her new duties effective July 1. She will replace Julie Wessling, who currently is interim dean of libraries. Her selection came after a national search led by Bob Hoffert, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. The search narrowed the field to three candidates. All finalists met with Colorado State faculty, students and staff in open forums on campus.

"I’m delighted to join the university as dean of libraries," Murray-Rust said. "I am looking forward to working with the library staff, faculty and administrators from across campus to build on the strong library resources available at Colorado State."

Murray-Rust graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Mount Holyoke College and holds her graduate diploma in library and information studies from the University of London.

As dean of libraries at Colorado State, Murray-Rust will serve as the chief administrative officer of the University Libraries; coordinate library activities with academic programs; establish goals, priorities and policies for development of collections, services and facilities; contribute to the libraries’ advancement efforts; and serve as a representative to professional associations.

The Colorado State University Libraries include four facilities with holdings of more than two million volumes and a budget of more than $11 million. The Libraries recently completed a $22 million expansion project. Library staff includes 40 professional librarians and 100 support personnel.