Matthew J. Sheehy appointed head of Harvard Depository

Matthew J. Sheehy, acting director for reference and research
services at the New York Public Library (NYPL), has been chosen to
lead the Harvard Depository (HD). The announcement was made by Helen
Shenton, deputy director of the Harvard University Library,
following an extended national search.

   "Matthew Sheehy is recognized by his colleagues as an innovator
    and a change manager," Shenton says. "The hallmarks of his work
    are insightful thinking, careful analysis, and collaborative
    leadership that enhance the experience of library patrons."

At the New York Public Library, Sheehy is responsible for all
operations relative to ReCAP, the high density off site storage
facility that NYPL shares with Columbia and Princeton universities.

While overseeing all ReCAP operations, Sheehy also led NYPL's
virtual reference team, merged a disparate set of interlibrary loan
(ILL) departments into a single comprehensive ILL service, and
shifted digital imaging operations from a collection focused program
into a public facing, print on demand program. Significantly, Sheehy
defined the library instruction and digital literacy program as a
core resource for teaching.

The Harvard Depository was created in 1986 to promote effective use
of space on the Harvard campus and to provide a secure, reliable,
and cost effective archival environment for paper based materials.
Today HD houses more than a third of Harvard's 16 million library
books.

   "Since its inception," Shenton states, "HD has provided the
    blueprint for many of the world's high density library storage
    facilities, including ReCAP. As a storage and retrieval
    operation, HD has an excellent record.

    "With Matthew Sheehy's leadership," Shenton continues, "HD will
    capitalize on its excellence in storage and retrieval while
    expanding into new and innovative areas of service. We are
    delighted to welcome him to the senior management team of the
    Harvard Libraries."

Sheehy joined the NYPL staff in 2006 as chief of access and reader
services in the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. He was named
NYPL's assistant director for reference and research services in
2008, assuming his current position in 2009.

Prior to his service at NYPL, he served as associate dean for
technical and access services at Adelphi University (2004 2006),
assistant head of access/collection services for the New Brunswick
libraries at Rutgers (2003 2004), technical services librarian and
assistant professor at Dowling College (2001 2003), and music
cataloger and assistant head of the Music Library for SUNY at Stony
Brook (2000 2001). Sheehy holds a BM in music composition from the
University of Hartford/Hartt School of Music, as well as an MA in
music history and an MLS from the State University of New York at
Buffalo.

Matthew J. Sheehy, who will hold the title of Assistant Director of
the Harvard University Library for the Harvard Depository, assumes
his duties on November 15, 2010. He will divide his time between HD
in Southborough and Harvard's central campuses in Cambridge, Boston,
and Allston.

Peter Kosewski
Director, Publications and Communications
Harvard University Library
Wadsworth House  1341 Mass. Avenue
Cambridge, MA  02138
617 495 7793
Fax: 617 495 0370


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