Summary

Administrative records of Donald E. Riggs, Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian at Nova Southeastern University

Dates

1996-2007 (1997-2007)

Extent

11 boxes

Biographical Sketch

Donald E. Riggs served as Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian at Nova Southeastern University from 1997 to 2007. Prior to this position, Dr. Riggs served for six years as Professor of Information and Library Science and Dean of University Libraries at the University of Michigan. He served twelve years as Dean of University Libraries at Arizona State University prior to going to the University of Michigan. In addition to his university library experience, Dr. Riggs served as head librarian in a high school, community college, and a four-year college.

Dr. Riggs grew up in rural West Virginia where his love of books started at an early age. He received his B.A. in Biological Sciences from Glenville State College in 1964, his M.A. in Educational Administration and Liberal Arts from West Virginia University in 1966, his M.L.S from the University of Pittsburgh in 1968, and his Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration and Community Education with Instructional Media Resources as the cognate area from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1975. His dissertation was entitled An Application of a Planning-Programming-Budgeting-System (PPBS) to a Technical Services Processing Center.

Dr. Riggs served in several leadership positions in the library profession; for example, he was elected to the presidency of three state library associations (Arizona, Colorado and West Virginia). From 1994-95, Dr. Riggs was President of the national 5,200 member Library Administration and Management Association. Locally he served as President of SEFLIN (the multi-type library cooperative serving Florida’s five southeastern counties). He was an author/editor of multiple books, book chapters, and journal articles. He served as editor of Library Administration and Management, Library Hi Tech, and the College & Research Libraries journals. He was invited to present professional papers and serve as a consultant for library programs throughout the world including the United States, China, Hungary, Ukraine, Republic of South Africa, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, and the Czech Republic. In 1981 he received the national Hugh Atkinson Memorial Award for his innovation in library technology and risk-taking leadership, however he claimed his favorite award was that of Alumnus of the Year from his alma mater, Glenville State College, in 1992.

Scope and Content

General Correspondence, memos, budgets, human resources paperwork, reports, and proposals are present in the administrative records of Donald E. Riggs. The majority of the files’ coverage includes the planning and construction materials related to the building of the joint-use library with Broward County spearheaded by Donald E. Riggs from NSU and Sam Morrison from Broward County. Additional materials related to his work with various organizations is included, particularly the Association of College and Research Libraries where he served as editor of College & Research Libraries and from universities where he served as a distance education faculty member.

The main bulk of the materials is from 1997 to 2002. Therefore, the collection offers a very thorough portrayal of the many facets of the Nova Southeastern University Libraries during those years. The bulk of the material is concerned with the administration of the various libraries at Nova Southeastern University – both on the main campus and at the regional campuses. This includes the Oceanography, Law, Health Professions Division, East Campus, North Miami Beach Campus, Panama, Jamaica, Bahamas, and the main campus libraries. There are files regarding the affiliation agreements between Nova University and various other institutions and organizations. Also included are many files covering the joint-use library planning, libraries’ administration (finance, strategic plans, human resources documentation), and professional and personal correspondence. The challenges of a growing university and a consequently growing university library system are evident in the administrative files.

Access or Use Restrictions

Archival collections are closed to the public. Permission must be obtained from the current NSU Archivist and the Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian. Certain files are restricted to protect identities of former staff and/or students.

Document Type

Finding Aid

Finding Aid Created

3-2015

Finding Aid Creator

Michele Gibney

Location

Nova Southeastern University Archive

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