Dr. Gary Fitsimmons

Biography

Dr. Gary Fitsimmons has served in mostly academic librarianship for 32 years, 25 as Director in two institutions in each of which, he initiated the establishment of the college archives. He has served as Director of Library Services for Bryan College in Dayton, TN for the last 15 years. He holds a BA in Communication Arts with a Drama concentration from Oral Roberts University and an MLS and Ph.D. in Library Science from Texas Woman’s University. He has been active as a mentor and on committees in professional librarian organizations such as the American Library Association, Library Leadership and Management Association, Texas Library Association, and currently in the Association of Christian Librarians. His publications include writing a Library Leadership column for over six years in The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances about library management. He also has served as Co-Chair of the Bowen Central Library of Appalachia Directors Council and Chairs the Shared Catalog Strategic Planning Committee of the Appalachian College Association. He has taught a Sunday Launch Group and served as Christian Education Director for the Family Church, Dayton Church of God. In his spare time, Gary also enjoys landscaping, playing drums, writing, playwriting (including two musicals) and directing, reading about creation research, renovating his 123-year-old house, and being active among the body of Christ in service and worship.

Publications, Research, & Editing

• Book Chapter: Why Shared Governance is both the Worst and Best Model for Decision- making in Academic Libraries in Leadership Skills of the Successful Academic Library Director Edited by Colleen S. Harris-Keith, Chicago: ALA Editions/Neal-Schuman (Accepted for publication).
• Regular column: “Library Leadership” in The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances, Emerald Publishers, vol. 2 no. 4 (2007) through vol. 27 no. 2 (2014)
• Book Reviews in The Christian Librarian starting vol. 58 no. 2 p.160, Association of Christian Librarians, continuing through various vols.
• Academic Library Directors in the Eyes of Hiring Administrators,’ Advances in Library Administration and Management vol. 26 (2008)

Conference & Workshop Presentations

• Panelist for “ACL-Pro Plenary Workshop 2: Creative Roles: How to Use Student Workers in Unique Ways,” Association of Christian Librarians Annual Conference June 6-8, 2023, Cedarville, OH, (Also in the virtual conference June 26-27, 2023).
• Organized, sponsored and moderated: ACRL Scholarly Communication 101: “Starting with the Basics” Roadshow and “How to Start Your Library’s E-Publishing Program: Developing an Action Plan” workshops, Bryan College, Dayton, TN, May 25, 2010.
• “The Institutional Repository as a Platform for a Digital Commons” presented at the Snezek Library Leadership Institute of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA, July 15-17, 2009.
• Moderator: “You’ve Been Shopped! Mystery Shopping for Better Service” at ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA, June 2008.
• “Salary Studies: Approach with Caution” presented at the CHECS/NMARL Fall Conference, Farmington, NM, November, 1996.