FORMER ODU LIBRARIAN CYNTHIA DUNCAN DIES
Cynthia B. Duncan, a former director of the University Libraries, died June 4, 2007, at Samaritan Inpatient Hospice, Mt. Holly, N.J. A resident of
Moorestown, N.J., she was 75.
Duncan was a longtime resident of Norfolk before moving to Moorestown seven years ago. She joined ODU in 1977 as dean of the library and retired in
1991 for health reasons.
During her career at the university, she led efforts that made the ODU library the first in Virginia to put all holdings in machine readable form, to go from a card to a microfiche catalog, to install an automated reference center and to implement a commercially produced integrated, automated library system.
She was instrumental in helping the library receive grant funding to support installation of Virginia's first union list catalog of all periodicals found in libraries in Hampton Roads, a well as funding to implement the state's first linked systems project.
A self-described workaholic, Duncan typically spent 60 to 80 hours a week on library business at ODU.
On the eve of her retirement, Duncan, who held a doctorate in library science from Indiana University, told a reporter, "I liked libraries, and I liked to know about them. When I first learned of the wealth of information in libraries, I was like a kid in a candy shop."
A memorial service for Duncan was held June 11. She is survived by one niece, Cheryl George of Shamong, N.J.; one nephew, Ronald Stacey of Plano, Texas; and numerous great nieces and great nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1851 Old Cuthbert Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034, or to the American Heart Association,
2551 Route 1, North Brunswick, NJ 08902.