This time next year, there will be one fewer familiar face around the shelves of Belk Library. Kate Hickey, dean of Library Services and university librarian, has announced she will retire at the end of this academic year, her 15th working at Elon University.
Hickey arrived at Elon in 1996, just after the architects for the new library had been selected. Since then, quite a bit has changed and she has been there for it all.
"It's a profession that has not been dull for a minute," she said. "You never know who's going to walk through those doors and what they're going to need."
Hickey said the theme at Elon while she's been here has been "growth with a capital G," even in the library. In the last few years especially, she said there has been major shift from print to electronic technology, and librarians who were trained in organizing books now must learn everything from Web design to program operation.
And the library doesn't offer just school-related books, but also includes an ever-increasing number of DVDs, ebooks, audio books and fiction.
"That's been a lot of fun and a challenge," she said.
Teresa LePors, coordinator of library public services, said Hickey has been up to the challenge these last 15 years.
"She's great," Le Pors said. "She has an open-door policy so you feel like you can always talk to her."
Le Pors also said Hickey is a very aware of the needs of her library staff and university students.
Senior Kristen Van Fleet, a library assistant, said Hickey will be missed.
"She's a good director," she said.
When Hickey's retirement begins June 1, 2012, she said she is looking forward to resting and traveling with her husband.
"I'm looking forward to flexibility more than anything else," she said.
A committee has been formed to search for her replacement, Hickey said, and that whoever comes in next year will find a great group of people to work with on the library staff.