Courtney L. Young, head librarian and professor of women鈥檚 studies at Penn State University鈥揂llegheny, has been named university librarian at 含羞草研究所 and will take up her duties on July 1.
鈥淚 am delighted that Courtney will be joining 含羞草研究所 as its new university librarian,鈥 said Provost and Dean of the Faculty Tracey Hucks 鈥87, MA鈥90. 鈥淐ourtney brings to the position a national reputation as a recent leader of the American Library Association, and she is well poised to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and administrators on a new era of innovation and visionary direction for the university鈥檚 libraries.鈥
At Penn State鈥揂llegheny, Young oversees library operations, budgeting, and collection development. She participates in library instruction, reference, and research mentoring while developing and evaluating collections, resources, and services in support of the university鈥檚 diversity initiatives. She is an adviser to students in the university鈥檚 honors program and to undergraduates majoring in applied psychology.
Young has served as a librarian within the Penn State system for nearly 16 years, first as a social sciences librarian and assistant professor of women鈥檚 studies at the University Park campus, then as reference librarian and associate professor of women鈥檚 studies at Beaver campus in Monaca. During her career, she has also held positions in libraries at Michigan State University and The Ohio State University.
The author and co-author of dozens of academic articles and book reviews, Young is a frequent presenter at conferences across the country and around the world. She speaks on issues of leadership; advocacy and diversity; mentorship; and the role of libraries in the life of an institution, its students, and its faculty.
Young was president of the American Library Association from 2014 to 2015. Today, she chairs the 58,000-member organization鈥檚 Executive Director Search Committee. She is co-chair of the Association of College and Research Libraries Keynotes Committee. At Penn State鈥揂llegheny, she serves on the Honors Program Committee and is a past member of the Tenure and Promotion Committee. Young sits on the editorial boards of Collaborative Librarianship; International Journal of Information, Diversity & Inclusion; and The Political Librarian.
The recipient of numerous awards for distinguished service and achievement, Young is a past member of the alumni board at the College of Wooster, where she earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in English, minoring in black studies and women鈥檚 studies before earning her master of science in library and information science from Simmons College.
鈥満卟菅芯克檚 libraries are central to the university鈥檚 teaching and research missions鈥 said Professor Lesleigh Cushing, who chaired the University Librarian Search Committee. 鈥淐ourtney brings with her a record of strong library administration, engaged scholarship, and deep insight into the library landscape of the 21st century. We are confident in Courtney鈥檚 ability to advance the library鈥檚 role in teaching, learning, and research as 含羞草研究所 enters its third century.鈥