Two appointments have been announced by the MIT Libraries. Virginia Steel has been named associate director for public services of the MIT Libraries. She succeeds David Ferriero, who was appointed University Librarian at Duke University last fall. Eric Celeste is assistant director for technology planning and administration.
The selection of Ms. Steel, formerly head of the Social Sciences and Humanities Library at the University of California at San Diego, was announced by Ann J. Wolpert, director of MIT Libraries.
"Virginia Steel has the professional stature and personal qualities essential to guide the Libraries in their mission to serve the information requirements of the world class faculty, students, and researchers of MIT," Ms. Wol-pert said. "Her experience superbly prepares her to manage the changing nature of information services and formats that characterize MIT's library services today. We are delighted to welcome her to the Institute and to benefit from her commitment to maintaining strong links with key constituents in the MIT community."
Ms. Steel has served in several capacities at the UCSD libraries and has completed an academic library management internship at Brown University under the auspices of the Council on Library Resources. Her 16 years of library experience also includes a variety of administrative, public service and access service positions at the Arizona State University Libraries in Tempe, AZ.
As head of the largest branch library at UCSD, Ms. Steel was responsible for operations including reference service and instructional programs, government documents, interlibrary loan and document delivery, electronic information services and products, and circulation functions. Under her leadership, the library offered World Wide Web classes for faculty and students, created a multimedia orientation session to UCSD libraries, and supported the design and creation of Web pages covering specific disciplines, course topics and assignments. She was also responsible for creation of a gateway to US government information and enhanced delivery of social sciences numeric data.
Ms. Steel received the BA from the University of Rochester and the MA from the Graduate Library School of the University of Chicago. A frequent speaker and accomplished writer, Ms. Steel's professional contributions include editorships, articles, invited papers, and a video production.
In his newly created position, Mr. Celeste will be responsible for leading the MIT Libraries in planning for the system-wide use of technology. Library automation is rapidly expanding into new areas of information technology and the networked, interactive delivery of resources and services. Such services require high-level technical leadership and expertise within the library, as well as strong and effective partnerships with such key campus organizations as Information Systems and Academic Computing.
Mr. Celeste received the BA from Yale University and the MLS from Kent State University. He joined the MIT Libraries in 1991, serving first in serials cataloging, then as head of the serials copy cataloging and record maintenance unit. In 1996 he was named acting head of the Libraries' Systems Office.
Before joining MIT, Mr. Celeste was a campus consultant for NeXT Computer Inc. Previously he founded and was principal of Appropriate Technology, a Macintosh software development, consulting and graphic design business. His prior experience also includes computer programming, and organizing and directing the information systems operation of a gubernatorial election campaign.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on August 27, 1997.
