ASLAPR - About The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records

GladysAnn Wells, MLS

Director and State Librarian
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
1997 to present

GladysAnn Wells

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 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. 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, Arizona County Librarians, and the Board of Library Examiners.

›	Received or assisted in obtaining more than $61 million in grant funds for Arizona cultural institutions between 1997 and 2009.
›	Led efforts for the planning and construction of a new, $38 million, state-of-the-art archives building dedicated in 2009.
›	Increased the visibility and effectiveness of the Agency with constituent groups, including the Legislature, executive agencies, libraries, museums, cultural and educational institutions, the business community, statewide media, tribes, and private foundations. Built collaborative relationships between libraries, archives, and museums in Arizona.
›	Guided a nationally recognized program to address the challenges of digital governmental information, including innovative curatorial practices. Received two grants from the Library of Congress National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program for the Arizona Model for Web Preservation and for a Persistent Digital Archives and Library System (PeDALS), programs that have received international attention. Provided support for University of Arizona’s School of Information Resources and Library Science to develop a certificate program for digital information management.
›	Represented western states in efforts to revise legislation concerning the Government Printing Office (Title 44) and Copyright (Section 108) and to reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act.
›	Revitalized the Arizona Center for the Book and spearhead early literacy and life-long learning community based efforts.
›	Developed a nationally acclaimed statewide library development effort focusing on libraries as community centers within educational, social, and educational contexts.

Interim Director. New York State Library (NYSL). 1995 to 1997.

Responsible for programs, services, and operation of the largest state library in the nation, including the State Law Library. The New York State Library, a member of the Association of Research Libraries, provides statewide research support ranking in the top 200 libraries worldwide.

Experience Prior to 1995

›	Coordinator for Library Administration, Special Assistant to State Librarian, NYSL.
›	Senate Librarian, Editor Senate Task Force on Critical Problems, New York State Senate.
›	Law/Legislative Reference Librarian, NYSL.
›	Director, Empire State College Library, Saratoga Springs, New York. Expertise in research, writing and debate on legislation, and public policy. Special training and experience with public outreach, communications, labor negotiation, personnel, and budgeting.

SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

›	Reviewer for The Museum Educator’s Manual (AltaMira Press, 2009).
›	Member, Virginia Piper Trust Experience Matters Leadership Team, 2008-2009.
›	Member, Legislative Ad Hoc State Capitol Task Force, 2007-2008.
›	Member, Arizona Quarter Commission, 2005-2008.
›	Provided support for authorship and online publication of A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology (Society of American Archivists, 2005).
›	Member, National Advisory Committee, Lifelong Access Libraries Initiative, 2005-2006.
›	Member of the Board, Arizona Telecommunications Council, 2001-present.
›	Member, National Advisory Board for an Institute of Museum and Library Services study, The Future of Librarians in the Workforce, 2004-2008.
›	Worked with the United States Agency for International Development-funded Democratic Initiative project, Republic of Bolivia. Worked with parliamentary libraries in Bolivia, Peru and Chile. Evaluated current legislative information patterns, analyzed needs, developed strategic plan for the Bolivian Congressional information services, 1993-1995.
›	Coordinated the public information and the fiscal and personnel aspects for the 1990 Governor’s Conference on Libraries and for the New York State delegation to the 1991 White House Conference on Libraries.
›	Prepared the annual Report of the States, 1981-1986, which documented progress towards the 1979 White House Conference recommendations (ERIC documents) for the White House Steering Committee.
›	Represented New York State Senate at the 1978 Governor’s Conference on Libraries and the 1979 White House Conference on Library and Information Services.

RECENT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND PUBLICATIONS

›	Recipient, University of Albany, College of Computing and Information Services, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2009.
›	Recipient, Arizona Library Association Library Leadership Award, 2008.
›	Keynote speaker, North Carolina Library Association Ogilvie Lecture, 2007.
›	Co-author of “Engaging Your Community: Libraries as Place,” in Beth R. Bernhardt, Tim Daniels, and Kim Steinle, Charleston Conference Proceedings 2005 (Libraries Unlimited, 2006), p. 188-202.
›	Co-author of “From Bibliographer to Curator: Archival Strategies for Capturing Web Publications,” presented at the International Federation of Library Associations, World Library and Information Conference: 71st IFLA General Conference and Council, Oslo, 2005 and published in IFLA Journal 32:1 (2006).
›	Presidential Commendation, Society of American Archivists, for “unwavering support for the archives profession, tireless commitment to her staff, and boundless energy and enthusiasm,” 2005.
›	Recipient of the Governor’s Commendation for Service to the State, 2005.
›	Appointed by Governor to the Arizona School Readiness Board, 2003-2006.
›	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 and included in Raymond T. Nimmer, Understanding Electronic Contracting: The Impact of Regulations, New Laws, and Agreements (Practicing Law Institute, 2002).
›	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, Inter-Association Working Group on Government Information Policy, Title 44 Revision, 1997-1999.
›	Special Libraries Association: Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Service to Library and Information Science Profession, 1996. Awarded, in part, for chairing the national Government Relations Committee (1981-1982) and the national Public Relations Committee (1985-1986).
›	Selected as delegate to Networked Information in the 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

›	Chair, American Library Association Subcommittee on Government Information, Committee on Legislation, 2008-present.
›	Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), Representative to the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), Quebec, 2008-2009.
›	Member, Society of American Archivists Government Affairs Working Group, 2008-present.
›	COSLA Liaison to Society of American Archivists and to National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, 2005-2008.
›	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, 1999-2006.
›	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, pre-pared 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.

“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, editor.

“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. 5-76.

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.

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Updated: 04/08/2009