K. Matthew Dames, the Edward H. Arnold University Librarian at the University of Notre Dame, is the new president of the Association of Research Libraries. The nonprofit organization includes membership of 125 research libraries in Canada and the U.S whose mission is to advance research, learning, and scholarly communication.
“It is an honor and a privilege to begin my term as ARL’s 61st president,” Dr. Dames said. “I look forward to collaborating with all our key stakeholders and constituencies to increase the value we bring to our members. I also look forward to broadening the association’s commitment to diversify the profession and make it more equitable, especially during this critical juncture in our society.”
Dr. Dames came to Notre Dame this fall after serving as Boston University Librarian since 2018. Earlier, Dr. Dames was associate university librarian for scholarly resources and services at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and was interim dean of libraries and University Librarian at Syracuse University in New York.
Dr. Dames is a graduate of Baruch College of the City University of New York, where he majored in business administration. He holds a master of library and information science degree and a Ph.D. in information sciences from Syracuse University and a juris doctorate from Northeastern University in Boston.
