RICHARDSON , Texas (Aug. 10, 2004) — Dr. Larry D. Sall, an historian and flight enthusiast, has been appointed to the newly created position of dean of libraries at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). The move will more closely align Sall, who has served as director of libraries at UTD’s Eugene McDermott Library for the past four years, with peers at universities across the country and allow him to participate in the dean’s caucus, the policy advising group for the university’s provost.
Sall’s appointment brings the number of deans at UTD to 11.
Dr. Larry D. Sall
Prior to his appointment as director of libraries in 2000, Sall led the library’s special collections department for more than 20 years, where, among other things, he helped establish compilations in aviation history and philately.
Sall has overseen major achievements in library services at UTD, including the renovation and modernization of the library’s fourth floor, the creation of the McDermott Library Lecture Series and the McDermott Library Writers Series, the establishment of a leisure reading program, the renovation and upgrade of the bibliographic instruction facility, the creation of satellite libraries and mobile kiosks in various schools and buildings on campus, a Friends of the Library program and the adoption of a new library operating system. Sall also has taken the library into the electronic age, making more than 30,000 journals and hundreds of databases available online.
“I am honored to be named dean of libraries,” Sall said. “This is not a personal honor — it is a reflection of the work of a great library staff and the support of the entire university community, including administration, faculty and the student body. It also is recognition of the central role the library plays in a university, supporting learning and research as a partner in the academic endeavor.”
Sall’s appointment comes at a significant time in the library’s history — as UTD prepares to celebrate the library’s acquisition of its one-millionth volume, an 18th Century botanical set. The book, Flora Londinenis, is a landmark in English botany written by William Curtis.
At its inception in 1969, UTD did not have a traditional academic library. As the university grew, the library expanded its profile to cover new disciplines while still providing major support for UTD’s scientific and technical curriculum. Today the library serves about 14,000 students, as well as hundreds of faculty and staff.
Sall, an Audubon Society enthusiast, has written several book reviews and led numerous programs at professional conferences, talks to Rotary Clubs, school groups and other community groups about library developments, bird watching and environmental issues. He is a member of the Richardson Rotary Club, is a past president of Texas Philatelic Association and serves on the board of director of the Frontiers of Flight Museum. Sall also is a member of the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations, is president-elect of the Dallas County Audubon Society and is on the board of directors of the Texas State Audubon Society. He received both his master of arts and Ph.D. degrees from Wayne State University.
About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor®, enrolls about 14,000 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s Web site at www.utdallas.edu