Following a rigorous review of candidates garnered from two searches, the Search Committee wholeheartedly recommends and supports the appointment of Drs. Carol A. Leibiger and Nicole A. Cooke as co-editors of Libraries: Culture, History, and Society, effective January 2023, each for two-year, renewable terms. The LHRT Executive Committee voted unanimously to approve Drs. Leibiger and Cooke on December 12, 2022. You can read the press release here.
Dr. Nicole A. Cooke is Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and Associate Professor at the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Cooke brings exceptional prestige as a researcher to LCHS as author of dozens of books, chapters, and articles on critical cultural information studies, fake news consumption, and diversity and social justice in librarianship. Additionally, she guest-edited a special double issue of LCHS on ten Black women librarians. With Dominique Daniel and Michele Fenton, she crafted the LCHS DEI Statement and Action Plan that was adopted by the LCHS Editors and Editorial Board in November 2021. Dr. Cooke has a proven track record of mentoring younger and/or marginalized scholars and will build and nurture relationships that will grow and strengthen the author and reviewer base of the journal.
Dr. Carol A. Leibiger is Associate Professor and Information Literacy Coordinator at the University of South Dakota. A seasoned researcher in the humanities, Dr. Leibiger is widely published and has extensive experience as a reviewer and has served on the editorial boards of academic journals. Dr. Leibiger has long mentored students and fellow scholars, and as past chair and longtime member of LHRT, she has proven a diplomatic, empathetic, and effective communicator. Dr. Leibiger brings additional language competencies that will help forge connections with international partners.
The Search Committee deeply respects Drs. Cooke and Leibiger’s commitment to equity and social justice, their plans to partner and develop the author and reviewer base of the journal, and, importantly, their dedication to LHRT. Upon appointment, Drs. Cooke and Leibiger will work alongside Bernadette Lear and Eric Novotny through the completion of the Fall 2024 issue (in Spring 2024).
I would like to thank those who served on the Search Committee for their patient and diligent service from August 2021 to December 2022 (or a portion thereof):
John Budd
Nicole A. Cooke
Dominique Daniel
Bernadette A. Lear
Carol A. Leibiger
Ana Ramirez Luhrs
Cindy Nguyen
Brett Spencer
Andrew B. Wertheimer
Steven Witt
The members gave honest feedback and candid insight throughout the process, and persevered despite the extended timeline-all while juggling additional responsibilities brought on by ongoing global health and economic crises. I greatly appreciate their commitment to finding exemplary leaders for the next chapter of Libraries: Culture, History, and Society and making the process enjoyable along the way.
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Emily Spunaugle
Humanities and Rare Books Librarian
Oakland University
She/Her/Hers