JEAN MAJOR TO RETIRE AT THE END OF AUGUST

University Librarian Jean A. Major will retire Aug. 31 after 10 years at Old Dominion.

During her tenure the Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library was dedicated; the F. Ludwig Diehn Composers Room, a music special collections facility, was created; digital services to the university's distance learning community were initiated; and an electronic information resource center was established at the university's Virginia Beach Higher Education Center. In addition, the Friends of the Library organization was established and is now thriving.

Recently, Major published a history of the library from its genesis in the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary through its present position as home to more than two million volumes at an independent doctoral university.

Major's commitment to cooperative access to technology-based information services began with her service on the governing council of the pioneering Illinois LCS project in 1979 and extends to membership in the current steering committee of Virginia's Virtual Library (VIVA). VIVA is one of the first statewide, shared digital library projects. Major served on the board of the Association of College and Research Libraries from 1982-1986, the SOLINET board from 1994-1997, and boards of BCR (Bibliographical Center for Research) and ASCLA. She has also served ACRL and ALA by performing numerous committee assignments.