People

LISHost has hired Karen A. Coombs as its Web Applications Specialist, helping libraries and librarians identify and implement open source web applications.

Kathleen “Kats” Gustafson has joined the Rio Hondo College Library, Whittier, CA, as Dean of Library and Learning Support. She was Dean of Learning & Technology Resources, Grossmont College.

Maricopa County Library District, AZ, has hired Matt Miller as its Chief Technology Officer.

Boston Public Library has named Kenneth J. Peterson Administrator, Boston Regional Library System/Metro-Boston Library Network.

Trina Purcell is now Library Director, University of the Rockies, Colorado Springs. She comes to academe from the Denver Public Library.

The Norman Public Library, OK, has removed “interim” from the title of branch manager Aiden Street, who succeeded Susan Gregory.

The American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) has presented its 2009 Award of Merit to educator, researcher, and veteran LJ columnist Carol Tenopir.

Fayetteville Public Library (FPL), AR, Director of Operations Shawna Thorup has been selected as FPL's new Executive Director, succeeding Louise Schaper, who retired October 30.

Kellie Tomita has been named Marketing and Communications Division Manager at the Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center, Fayetteville, NC.

J. Robert Verbesey has been named Executive Director, Southwest Florida Library Network, Ft. Myers. He previously was founding Director, Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, NY.

Carma R. Leigh, former California and Washington State Librarian, died September 25 in San Diego at age 104.

Robert Francis Skinder, Science Librarian, Thomas Cooper Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, died September 5; he was 66. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Skinder was a librarian at the Federal Aviation Administration Library, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, and Johns Hopkins University.