GladysAnn Wells has been the Director and State Librarian of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records since 1997. She is responsible for statewide collaboration of libraries, archives, public records programs, and, under the Library Services and Technology Act, museums. The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, a legislative agency with an annual operating budget of $10.6 million and a staff of 115, provides access to public information as the Federal Regional Depository and the State depository, provides alternative format materials through the Braille and Talking Book Library, preserves Arizona’s history through curatorial, archival, records management, and library functions, and supports life-long learning through the Carnegie Center. She is responsible for several state commissions, including the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission, the Arizona Historical Records Advisory Board, the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names, and the Board of Library Examiners.
GladysAnn Wells received her Masters Library Science at the State University of New York at Albany. She began her state library career in New York in 1972, while still in library school, as a legislative session research aide. After a brief time at Empire State College Library, she then became a Legislative Reference Librarian in 1973 at the New York State Library. From 1975 to 1980, she served the Senate Research Service, first as editor, then researcher, and later as Senate Librarian. GladysAnn drafted state and federal library, document and public policy legislation. She participated in the 1979 White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services and assisted the New York delegation to the 1991 White House Conference. Working internationally for the United States Agency for International Development, Democratic Initiative Project, from 1993 to 1995, GladysAnn evaluated legislative information patterns, analyzed needs, and developed a strategic information plan for the Republic of Bolivia, Congressional Information Service.
Selected Recent Career Highlights
› Arizona State Library accomplishments are listed in the Annual Report, click on “Accomplishments Annual Report” in this section web page border.
› Appointed by Governor to the Arizona School Readiness Board, 2003 - 2006.
› Co-authored a paper by invitation for the International Federation of Library Associations, World Library and Information Conference: 71st IFLA General Conference and Council, Oslo, August 2005. “From Bibliographer to Curator: Archival Strategies for Capturing Web Publications.”
› At the Governor's Cabinet Meeting on January 4, 2005, Governor Janet Napolitano presented GladysAnn Wells a commendation recognizing her service to the state. The text of that Commendation follows:
"GladysAnn Wells is the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records. The last several years have been a period of major growth and revitalization in the Agency. Instilled with a new sense of energy and vision from the Director, the Library and Archives is pursuing innovative approaches to meeting its broad range of responsibilities. It has enhanced services to the Legislature and initiated collaborative projects involving the library, archival, and museum communities.
GladysAnn is a nationally recognized expert presenter at workshops and conferences across the country and the state and is the President of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies. She plays a major role in planning and implementing statehood celebrations every year and is also playing a major role in coordinating activities and planning for Arizona's Centennial in 2012. She serves on a number of state and national committees in her field but is never to busy to assist the citizens of Arizona and government offices. GladysAnn has raised over $24 million of external funding to support Arizona public libraries and cultural institutions since her appointment in 1997."
<End of Governor's Commendation>
› Prepared a paper by invitation for the International Federation of Library Associations, Section of Government Libraries Pre-conference, London, August 2002. “Needed: Librarians, Archivists, and Records Managers for the Organization, Access, and Preservation of Government Information in the Electronic Era.”
› Authored and presented the paper “Libraries in the 21st Century” at the Practicing Law Institute seminar, May 2002, included in resulting handbook Understanding Electronic Contracting.
› Appointed to serve on the Arizona State Portal Advisory Council 2001.
› Arizona Humanities Council, Friend of the Humanities: Award of Excellence, 2001.
› Member. Panel Three, External (Public) Information Needs, 2000, informing the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science report, A Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination (January 2001).
› Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University of New York Albany: Distinguished Alumna 1999.
› Museum Association of Arizona: Award of Excellence, 1999.
› Arizona State Library Association: Special Recognition for Improvement In Library Services and Communication, 1997.
› State of New York. Legislative Resolution, Senate Number 165, “Honoring GladysAnn Wells for her long and distinguished career with the New York State Library.” January 28, 1997.
› Member, National Inter-Association Working Group on Government Information Policy, Title 44 Revision, federal government information legislation, 1997–1999.
› Special Libraries Association: Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Service to Library and Information Science Profession, 1996. Awarded, in part, for chairing the SLA national Government Relations Committee (1981–1982) and the national SLA Public Relations Committee (1985–1986).
› Selected as delegate to Networked Information in an International Context, a conference organized by UKOLN in association with the British Library, CNI, CAUSE and JISC, 9-10 February, 1996, Heathrow, UK
Professional Association Offices
› President. Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, 2002–2005.
› President. Western Council of State Libraries, 2000–2001.
› Member, Government Information Sub Committee. American Library Association Committee on Legislation, 1999–2005.
› Secretary. Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, 1998–2000.
› Special Libraries Association (national): Chairperson, Government Relations Committee (1981–1982), Committee Member (1982–1984), SLA Annual Conference Program Committee (1981–1982), Chairperson, Joint Cabinet Committee to Study Chapter/Division Fiscal Issues (1985–1986), Chairperson, Public Relations Committee (1985–1986).
› Upstate (New York) Chapter, Special Libraries Association: President (1984–1985); Chairperson, Government Affairs Committee (1979–1984); Chairperson, Networking Committee (1982–1983).
Earlier Publications
Strengthening the Research Capability of the Bolivian National Congress, prepared by SUNY/Bolivia Library Team: Isabel Nirenberg, Maria Otero, Carvel Payne, GladysAnn Wells; John Johnson, Project Director. Albany, NY, October 1993: SUNY/Bolivia Legislative Support Program.
Preliminary Report on the Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional, prepared by SUNY/Bolivia Library Team: Isabel Nirenberg, Maria Otero, Carvel Payne, GladysAnn Wells; John Johnson, Project Director. Albany, NY, June 1993: SUNY/Bolivia Legislative Support Program.
New York State Library Network Services Planning Task Force Report; Defining the Services, Roles and Relationships of the State Library as Information Provider, Broker, Publisher, Switch and Catalyst in a Networked Environment, Albany, New York, The University of the State of New York, State Education Department, New York State Library, 1992. [ten-year vision statement]
“Integrating the Database, Workstation, and People: Planning and Implementation Considerations of the Electronic Reference Station,” in Convergence; Proceedings of the Second National Conference of the Library and Information Technology Association, October 2-6, 1988, Boston, Michael Gorman, ed. Chicago and Boston: American Library Association, 1990. pp. 99-105.
“An Old Chestnut in New Form,” CliC Quarterly, volume 2, number 1, March 1983. pp. 14-17.
The Master Plan for the New York State Capitol, report of the Temporary State Commission on the Restoration of the Capitol, 1982.
“The Special Information Resources of Federal Libraries and National Documentation Centers to Meet the Needs of Local Communities,” Special Libraries, White House Conference issue, volume 71, number 2, February 1980. pp. 75-76.
Education and Certification
› New York State Public Library Certificate, 1975 (#8060).
› M.L.S. School of Library and Information Science, State University of New York at Albany, 1972.
› Teaching fellowship, Ph.D. program in English. University of South Carolina, Columbia, 1970–1971. Coursework applied to M.L.S.
› B.A. in English. Greensboro College, Greensboro, North Carolina, 1970. Special honors in English, magna cum laude.
GladysAnn’s interests include horseback riding, hiking, swimming, and reading. She has raced sports cars on nationally recognized tracks and in regional competitions. She holds an Advanced Instructor’s Certificate for Horsemanship and has completed through the second level in dressage. She owns Dutch Warmblood, Morgan, and miniature horses, and Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs.
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