BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Arnold Hirshon

Executive Director
NELINET
153 Cordaville Road, Suite 200
Southborough, MA  01772

Email: hirshon@nelinet.net
Voice: 508/597-1934 or 1-800-635-4638 ext. 1934

Arnold Hirshon has been the Executive Director of  NELINET, Inc. since April 1999.   NELINET is a library consortium that promotes library technology development and resource sharing among over 600 academic, public, and corporate libraries throughout New England.

From 1995 to 1999 Hirshon served as Vice Provost for Information Resources at Lehigh University, where he was responsible for the University libraries, computing, telecommunications, and media services.  At Lehigh, Hirshon led the strategic planning and restructuring process to integrate the computing and library functions, spearheaded a university-wide effort to improve the enterprise-wide (administrative) information systems, instituted Lehigh's charter membership in Internet 2, and initiated a large-scale expansion of electronic library information resources.  Hirshon was also the founder and first chairperson of the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc. (PALCI), which led the development of a statewide virtual union catalog user-initiated lending system.

From 1990-1995 Hirshon served as University Librarian at Wright State University.  Under his leadership, the University Libraries developed a Web-based integrated electronic access system to all resources, developed electronic text and imaging projects, a customer service program, and outsourced all cataloging.   He also played a key role in the early development of OhiLINK.  From 1983 through 1990 Hirshon was associate director of University Library Services at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was responsible for implementing one of the earliest online catalogs and for one of the first large-scale installations of local online indexes in the United States. From 1978-1983 he was Assistant Head of the Cataloging Department at Duke University, and from 1974-1978 he was Assistant Head, and later Head, of the OCLC Cataloging Section at Wayne State University.

Active for many years in the American Library Association, Hirshon served as president of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) in 1992. He also served for for six years as Editor of the Newsletter. Hirshon also has held positions in the Association for College and Research Libraries, is a member of the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) Users Council, and served on the non-serials holdings statement subcommittee of the National Information Standards Organization.

Hirshon's substantial publication record includes monographs and numerous book chapters and articles on information technology, libraries, and organizational planning.   Recent articles publications centered on the future of library consortia, including recent articles in the Journal of Academic Librarianship and Information Technology and Libraries.  Hirshon served as the Editor of the Library Consortia Management: An International Journal.  His monographs include Integrating Computing and Library Services: An Administrative Planning and Implementation Guide (published by Educause), and Outsourcing Library Technical Services, which he co-authored with Barbara Winters.   The book chapter on future trends in libraries entitled "Running with the Red Queen: Breaking New Habits for Survival in the Virtual World," appeared in Advances in Librarianship.  Other recent publications addressed the future of academic libraries, customer service standards, and the impact of digital publishing on libraries.

In addition to his publications, Hirshon has been a frequent lecturer nationally and internationally.  Hirshon was the recipient of the 1998 the ALA Hugh Atkinson Memorial Award, which recognizes innovation and risk-taking in the management and development of technology in academic libraries.

PRESENTATIONS: click here for recent presentations

PUBLICATIONS: click here for selected publications

HONORS

  • Recipient, Hugh Atkinson Memorial Award (American Library Association).  1998.  [For advancement of, and risk-taking in, library management and technology.]

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE: NATIONAL (selected)

Pennsylvania Academic Library Connection Initiative (PALCI)

  • Founding member; Chair, Executive Committee (1996-1999)

American Library Association. Association of College and Research Libraries

  • Academic Status Committee (1982-1986)
  • Legislation Committee (1983-1987)

American Library Association. Association for Library Collections and Technical Services.  (Formerly "Resources and Technical Services Division" [RTSD])

  • President (1991-1992)
  • Board of Directors (1987-1989; ex-officio, 1979-1985; 1990-1993)
  • Budget and Finance Committee (chair, 1986-1989)
  • Resources Section Executive Committee (member-at-large, 1987-1989)

Coalition for Networked Information

  • Lehigh University representative (1995 - 1998)
  • Coalition for Networked Information / CAUSE, Regional Conference Planning Committee (May 29-31, 1996)
  • Wright State University representative (1990 - 1995)

National Information Standards Organization

  • Member, Subcommittee W: Holdings Statements for Non-Serial Publications. (1983-1990)

Online Computer Library Center (OCLC)

  • Users Council representative (1988-1991, 1999-)

EDUCATION

M.P.A. Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. 1978.
M.L.S. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. 1974.
B.A. State University College of New York at Plattsburgh. 1972.

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