ACRL announces David Free as new editor-in-chief of College and Research Libraries News/ marketing and communications specialist

Contact: Dawn Mueller
ACRL
312-280-2516
For Immediate Release
June 18, 2007

ACRL announces David Free as new editor-in-chief of College and Research Libraries News/ marketing and communications specialist

CHICAGO - The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is pleased to announce the appointment of David Free as the editor-in-chief of College and Research Libraries News (C&RL News)/ marketing and communications specialist, effective July 16, 2007. As editor-in-chief, Free will continue to ensure the quality, timeliness, and relevance of C&RL News.

He also will work in conjunction with ACRL members and staff to bring enhanced, interactive features to the C&RL News Web presence to facilitate sharing and discussion of topics important to the academic library community.

“We are delighted to have David join the ACRL staff. His experience working in academic libraries coupled with his knowledge and experience with Web 2.0 technologies will be a great asset in bringing greater interactivity to ACRL programs and services,” said Mary Ellen K. Davis, ACRL Executive Director.

Along with his editorial duties, Free will work collaboratively across ACRL to develop marketing and communications plans for programs, publications, and services to maximize the awareness of association activities throughout the academic and research library community.

Free comes to ACRL from the Decatur Campus of Georgia Perimeter College, where he served as public services librarian, supervising reference and instructional services. He also served as reference and interlibrary loan librarian at Life University in Marietta, Georgia and as a Reference Specialist at Georgia State University.

Free is an acknowledged pioneer in the world of academic library podcasting and is a frequent speaker on podcasting and other technology topics at conferences in the United States and abroad.

Free received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia, M.A. in English from Georgia State University, and his M.L.I.S. from Clark Atlanta University.

ACRL is a division of the American Library Association (ALA), representing more than 13,500 academic and research librarians and interested individuals. ACRL is the only individual membership organization in North America that develops programs, products and services to meet the unique needs of academic and research librarians. Its initiatives enable the higher education community to understand the role that academic libraries play in the teaching, learning and research environments.