New College of Florida and USF Sarasota-Manatee Hire Doherty as Dean of Jane Bancroft Cook Library

New College of Florida and USF Sarasota-Manatee have announced that Brian Doherty will be the new dean of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library. Doherty received his bachelor of music degree from Westminster Choir College, a master of arts and a master of library services from Rutgers University and a doctor of philosophy from the University of Kansas. Since 2006, he has been the director of library services at Arizona State University and was head of their music library from 2002 to 2006. Doherty has an extensive background that spans over 18 years in college library administration, planning, budgeting, technology and grant writing.

The New College and USF Sarasota-Manatee members of the library dean search committee collaboratively reviewed many worthy applications over a period of five weeks, and completed a large number of telephone interviews with candidates and their references. At the end of this long and careful process, they were unanimous and enthusiastic in their recommendation that Doherty be offered the position.

“We believe that Brian Doherty has the experience and energy to guide the Jane Bancroft Cook Library through the exciting challenges that libraries and information technology must navigate in the near future,” said Charlene Callahan, interim director of environmental studies at New College and chair of the search committee. “We are especially pleased that his extensive background — in the liberal arts, with graduate level programs, and with rapidly evolving technology — perfectly matches our unique situation and needs.”

Doherty will start his new position on July 1. “I am thrilled to be named dean of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library and look forward to working with the communities of both New College and the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. The opportunity to build on the fine traditions of this library and to develop 21st-century collections and services for both institutions is an exciting prospect that will draw on all of my experience and interests, said Doherty.”

Douglas Langston, professor of philosophy and religion at New College, has served as interim dean of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library since October of 2008.

For more information contact Aimee Chouinard, Media Relations Coordinator,  at (941) 487-4152 or [email protected].