Recently hired Dean of Libraries Scott Seaman is no stranger to Athens.
During his college years, he spent weekends hiking in Hocking Hills State Park and ' you guessed it ' studying at Alden Library.
My wife went to Ohio University as an undergrad
so I used Alden more frequently than the institution's library for which I was enrolled said the Wright State University graduate, who often studied in Alden's basement ' now home to its Southeast Asia collection.
What struck me about Athens was its sense of community he said. It was a place where intellectual life really made an impact on the town.
Two decades later, Seaman is leaving his position as associate director of administrative services for Norlin Library at the University of Colorado, Boulder and returning to Athens as dean of libraries. His new position is effective April 1.
Reacclimating to OU's campus will be a challenge
Seaman said. There are dramatic cultural differences between Boulder and Athens.
Despite these cultural differences, the libraries in Boulder and Athens share an approximate collection size and faculty count and are roughly the same age, he said.
Completed in 1972, Alden is in the first stages of its five-year renovation plan.
I am extraordinarily impressed with the forward thinking of the library services
Seaman said. OU students are pretty lucky.
Seaman will arrive in Athens a few weeks before his first day as dean.
I've had a wonderful time in Colorado
but there's something about being home
he said. I am looking forward to interacting with students and faculty at OU to make sure the library serves them.
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Emily Hubbell
