It is my pleasure to congratulate Lynne Bentley, Director of Humber Libraries, on a successful career and wish her well in her retirement, while acknowledging she will be missed.
Lynne started her career at Humber in 1980 as a reference librarian supporting both the North and Lakeshore campuses. In 1992, she moved to North campus to become the Systems Librarian, overseeing the migration to a new integrated library system. In 1997 Lynne became the Manager of Humber Libraries with responsibility for all campus locations; in 1999, Lynne became director, a position that she has held for the past 17 years.
During her 36-year tenure, Lynne has seen tremendous change and growth at Humber, and within library services specifically. By comparing library operations 30 years ago to today in terms of space, services, resources and technology, one can appreciate the context within which Lynne has led the department. Profound technological changes have literally revolutionized libraries. Long gone are card catalogues and film reels as online catalogues, ebooks, ejournals and streaming videos now predominate. In-person services remain a core offering, but email, text and chat provide additional service points. Library spaces are less about aisles of books and more about study and interactive group work spaces. Marketing library services now includes student newspaper interviews as well as Humber TV and social media. The growth of Humber's student population, our diverse academic areas and array of polytechnic offerings, particularly the addition of degree programs, have necessitated the growth of the department and radically changed the expectations surrounding the library's collections. It takes someone who is strategic, dedicated and flexible to navigate such an ever-changing terrain over a prolonged period of time. Due in large part to Lynne’s efforts, Humber Libraries is seen as a system leader.
One of Lynne's legacies will be planning and collaboration in the design of Library and Learning Commons spaces in the new LRC. Lynne did extensive research, visiting many other colleges in order to better plan for Humber's new facilities. Lynne also collected data and monitored the student experience in the previous library at North, translating this research into a vision for the new spaces. Her approach throughout the process was to try and see the Library and Learning Commons through students' eyes, so she and the library team could best plan these spaces to meet student need. Lynne's planning skills and attention to detail have paid big dividends for the College. Both the Learning Commons and Library have been full since they opened in spring 2015 and there has been a corresponding 13% increase in Library service KPI for the North campus.
Lynne has also been active in the profession at a provincial level and her efforts have been highly regarded by her peers. She has been a member and chair of Heads, Libraries and Learning Resources (HLLR), an operating group of Colleges Ontario, and she has been actively involved in Ontario Colleges Library Service (OCLS), the library consortium to which all 24 Ontario colleges belong.
As you might expect of a librarian, Lynne is a quiet, reliable and efficient leader who maintains commitments, works collegially with her team and delivers on all expectations. Lynne has built strong relationships throughout the institution and has leveraged them to support the success of our students and the college's academic mission. With respect to the Library team, Lynne is known for giving staff the opportunity to self-select projects of interest. Lynne also involves her team in decision making and she has structured the department to give her colleagues many channels within which to share their opinions and ideas directly.
Lynne will retire at the end of December and we aren't letting her lack of love for the spotlight prevent us from celebrating her accomplishments. Please join us as we honour Lynne on Friday December 9th at the Humber Room between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. An official invitation will be forthcoming in the Communiqué.
Jason Hunter, Vice President
On behalf of Library Staff and the Division of Student and Community Engagement