Eden appointed Dean of Library Services
A published author and expert in metatdata, librarianship, and J. R. R. Tolkien studies has been appointed Dean of Library Services at Valparaiso University.
Dr. Bradford Lee Eden, Associate University Librarian for Technical Services and Scholarly Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara, will join the Valparaiso University community on Aug. 1.
As Dean of Library Services, Dr. Eden will report to Rick AmRhein, Valparaiso University’s Chief Information Officer. Dr. Eden will provide strategic leadership, manage library resources, and ensure outstanding library services for University faculty and students. As a member of the Council of Deans, Provost’s Council, and other campus administrative committees, Dr. Eden will play the critical role of library advocate within and beyond the Valparaiso University community.
“I am looking forward to joining the Valparaiso community, and providing superior and quality information services and resources to its faculty, students, and staff,” Dr. Eden said. “Being a graduate of Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and having grown up in northern Illinois, I look forward to returning to the Midwest.”
Prior to joining the staff at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Dr. Eden served as the Head of Web and Digitization Services at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Prior to that, he was UNLV’s Head of Bibliographic and Metadata Services.
Dr. Eden earned a Master of Science degree in library science from the University of North Texas. He also received his PhD in musicology from the University of Kansas after earning a Master of Arts degree in musicology from Indiana State University.
Dr. Eden will guide the Christopher Center for Library and Information Resource’s ongoing transformation to an increasingly complex digital environment while building on the momentum that has successfully brought together library services, technology, and other student services at Valpo.
“Dr. Eden’s background and experience make him an excellent choice for leading the library in new directions to provide enhanced digital information services and scholarly communication at Valparaiso University,” AmRhein said.
Dr. Eden has published a number of books in the areas of technical services, metadata, library management and administration, and J. R. R. Tolkien studies. These books include “Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services: Paths for the Future and Case Studies” in 2004, “More Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services” in 2009, and “Middle-earth Minstrel: Essays on Music in Tolkien” in 2010. He has authored several technology reports for the American Library Association’s TechSource division.