Katherine Hillier
Managing Editor

University librarian Taylor Ruhl has been asked to take administrative leave.

“Dr. Taylor Ruhl, University Librarian, has been put on administrative leave, effective 7 May and until 30 June 2007,” Provost Alden Reimonenq said in an e-mail statement Thursday. “Dr. Ruhl’s status with the University will be that of a librarian with tenure.”

Because of his tenure he may continue to pursue work at the University in other areas. In the meantime, Alfred Clark, associate vice president of academic affairs, has been appointed interim interim director of the library.

“I have become the interim director to help with the running of the library while they decide what to do next,” Clark said.

According to administrators, the situation is touchy.

“We have to be careful as a university to not prejudice either side of the issue or hurt any individual person’s reputation or otherwise,” Clark said.

Ruhl was hired in 2003 as University librarian, and as a tenured faculty member he has the right to continue working here. Recently some members of the library’s professional and technical staff have left for jobs elsewhere and another is planning to leave this month.

“At an appropriate time, we will conduct a search for a University Librarian,” Reimonenq said. A new librarian is not expected to arrive before spring 2008.

Katherine Hillier can be reached at khillier@ulv.edu.