ALA Home  New Indiana State Librarian

Volume 25, Number 3, 2003

Indiana State Library Welcomes Barbara Maxwell

The Indiana State Library and Historical Board has named Barbara R. Maxwell the new state librarian at the Indiana State Library. The 30th state librarian since 1841, Maxwell began her duties April 21.

“Indiana is fortunate to have Barbara Maxwell as its new State Librarian,” Dr. Thomas Hamm, president of the Indiana State Library and Historical Board, said. “She simply dazzled the search committee with her combination of experience, personality, managerial skills, vision, and passion for libraries.”

Maxwell previously served as library director at USA Today, one of the nation’s largest newspapers. She also served as the copyright permissions officer for USA Today, Gannett News Service, Baseball Weekly, USA Weekend, and USA Today.com for content and images and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the newspaper library since August 1990. She was responsible for content delivery to online vendors such as Factiva.com and Lexis-Nexis. Maxwell worked on the development, design, and establishment of the photo and text archives of USA Today. She served as a member of the editorial technology committee as well.

“I am thrilled to be coming to Indiana, a state that loves and values its libraries,” Maxwell said. “I look forward to working with all librarians and libraries to offer the best possible service to the residents of Indiana as we embark on a new century.”

The Indiana State Library provides library services to state government and, special populations such as people who are blind or have visual impairments; collects and preserves all types of information about the state of Indiana; supports the development of the library profession, and strengthens the service of all libraries in Indiana.