When it comes to libraries, Brian Mathews has always loved watching them grow and evolve as technology develops.
“It's cool that libraries are at that intersection of new technologies and information,” Mathews said. “That's the through line for me is how we read, how we find information, we share information, how we take information, or whatever it's going to and has evolved with technology over time, and that's what we're there to do is provide that access, but also help people navigate that.”
Mathews, who currently serves as the associate dean of research and innovation at Carnegie Mellon University, has been appointed as the new dean of Carol Grotnes Belk Library.
As part of his role, Mathews will oversee 22 full-time employees, Belk Library, Elon University Archives and Special Collections and the different programs within Belk Library. These include the Library and Instruction Liaison program and the Personal Librarian Program.
Mathews, who has undergraduate degrees in history and English from the University of Central Florida and a graduate degree in library and information sciences from the University of South Florida, said he is excited to come to Elon and hopes to bring more student voices into Belk Library.
“I'm excited to find ways to bring more student voices directly into the library's evolution,” Mathews said. “So whether that's co-creating programs or testing new tools, or even shaping spaces, I really want the students to see it, not just as a collection or a support service or an archive, if you will, but also as a place that they shape.”
Throughout his time at Carnegie Mellon, Mathews cofounded the CMU Library’s Robotics Project and was the principal investigator during the formation of Carnegie Mellon’s Digital Robotics Archive.
In addition to his role at Carnegie Mellon, Mathews has also worked in libraries at Virginia Polytechnic University, University of California Santa Barbara, Georgia Institute of Technology and George Washington University.
In a press release announcing his appointment as dean, Elon University Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Rebecca Kohn said that Mathew’s history of working in libraries stood out during the search process.
“Mr. Mathews’s distinguished record of leadership in academic libraries, with a focus on innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement, stood out in a deep field of impressive candidates for this important role,” Kohn said. “I’m excited to see him develop his forward-thinking ideas for advancing the library’s strategic vision, fostering its culture of engaged intellectual inquiry, and enhancing its role as a hub for innovation and academic excellence.”
As Mathews prepares to step into his role on August 1, he hopes that libraries will continue to serve their communities.
“Libraries have been and will continue to be champions of inquiry and access and imagination,” Mathews said. “Libraries in general, we want to be that place where people can ask big questions or explore tough issues.”