People
By Staff -- Library Journal, 5/1/2006
Karen Avenick, Associate Director at the Camden County Library System, Voorhees, NJ, has retired after nearly 30 years of service. In 1997, Avenick was named Librarian of the Year by the New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) and later served as NJLA president, 2003–04.
John Callahan has been appointed Director of the Palm Beach County Library System, West Palm Beach, FL, replacing Jerry Brownlee, who retired after 26 years. Callahan most recently was director of the Delray Beach Public Library, FL, part of the Palm Beach County Library Cooperative.
Brian Campbell, Director of Systems and Special Projects at the Vancouver Public Library (VPL), BC, has announced his retirement. Campbell joined VPL in 1980 as an automation consultant. He was founding chair of the Canadian Library Association (CLA) Information Policy Committee and in 2003 received CLA's top honor, the Outstanding Service to Librarianship Award.
Eileen Cobb has been named Assistant Director at Broward County Library (BCL), Fort Lauderdale, FL. Cobb has worked at BCL for more than 37 years, most recently as Associate Director for Public Service.
Phyllis Davis is the new Director of the South Central Library System (SCLS), Madison, WI, which has 52 member libraries serving approximately 750,000 residents. She has been with SCLS since 1985, serving as associate director since 2001 and interim director since January 1, 2006.
Mollie Dinwiddie, who has worked at the Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, for 20 years, has been named Dean of Library Services after a nationwide search. She has held the post on an interim basis for the past three years. Prior to that, she was director of technical services.
Joe Janes, Associate Dean at the University of Washington, Seattle, has won the Isadore Gilbert Mudge–R.R. Bowker Award for his contribution to the field of reference librarianship. Janes was chosen by a committee of American Library Association Reference and User Services Association members. He will receive a $5000 cash award from Bowker and a citation.
Stephen Hedges has been named the new Executive Director of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN). Hedges comes to OPLIN from the Nelsonville Public Library system in Athens, OH, where he was director since 1997.
Cynthia Smith has been promoted to Deputy City Librarian at the Escondido Public Library, CA. She recently joined the library as adult services coordinator, replacing Loretta McKinney, who left to become director at the Murrieta Public Library, CA.
