CONTACT: Amy Hartley, Geophysical Institute public relations manager, at 907-474-5823, or via e-mail at amy [dot] hartley [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu.

Fairbanks, Alaska— The Keith B. Mather Library boasts a collection of more than 27,000 books, 24,000 reports and now a new librarian.

After a lengthy search and vetting process, Flora Grabowska was selected as the new librarian and research assistant professor to take the helm of the library. The Mather Library supports both the Geophysical Institute and the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Grabowska will begin work at the library on Aug. 30, 2010.

Grabowska has an extensive background in library science and held her most recent post as science librarian at Vassar College since 1995. At Vassar, Grabowska was a strong proponent of open access, which is a move to provide scientists, teachers, students and the general public free and unrestricted use of research published in scholarly journals.

Before earning her master’s degree in library science in 1981, Grabowska was a scientist herself. She worked in the field of biochemistry at the University of British Columbia and at the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research in the United Kingdom.

“I love working with scientists,” Grabowska said by phone from her Poughkeepsie, NY home. “Several aspects of the research that’s being worked on (at the GI and IARC) are front page news — volcanoes, earthquakes and climate change — I find that all very exciting.”

Since the GI’s creation in 1946, the institute’s librarian has played a major role in the research facility’s operations. In fact, the Act of Congress that established the GI dictated that a librarian be one of the key positions of the institute. Flora Grabowska will be the tenth person to hold the position since the post was created more than 60 years ago.

“I’m honored. I’m really honored at being selected for this position,” Grabowska said. “It will be challenging, but I love a challenge — that’s what makes me productive.”

The Keith B. Mather Library is the most northern special library in the Unites States. The library has a number of special collections, including the largest aurora collection in the country.

Although the library supports the GI and IARC, it’s open to the general public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library is located in room 202 of the Akasofu Building on UAF’s West Ridge.

- 30 -

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian [dot] grimes [at] alaska [dot] edu.

ADDITIONAL INFO: http://www.gi.alaska.edu/services/library/index.html.