Tara Fulton, Eastern Michigan University’s dean of Halle Library, has been appointed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to the Library of Michigan Board of Trustees.
“To me, being on the board is about giving back. It’s a service to the students,” Fulton said.
The Library of Michigan is the official library of the state, and the 13-member board of librarians will meet four times a year to collaborate and work together on issues involving corporate, public and school libraries statewide.
Fulton said she is most excited about “getting to know other people in the professional library community of Michigan and learning more about the policy side of things.”
Fulton has worked at EMU for two and a half years.
“The reason I came to Eastern is the spirit on campus. People work together to solve problems,” she said.
However, she said the cold temperatures are a bit more severe than
in Pennsylvania, where she previously worked at Lock Haven University and Bucknell University.
“Whoever said it’s not much colder in southeast Michigan than it is in Pennsylvania, lied,” Fulton said.
EMU junior Heather Assenmacher is the student assistant in the dean’s office located in Halle library. She said Fulton will represent EMU well.
“I think she’ll do fine on the board and is definitely cut out for the job,” Assenmacher said.
Fulton also said there are many features of the library that may be overlooked by the majority of EMU’s student body.
“The third floor is for silent studying, but it’s not always quiet enough. Room 104 is a silent study room that students can use as well,” she said.
Fulton explained there is a laptop available for students to check out at the front desk, and a map library with thousands of different maps.
“Students can also set up an appointment to meet with a subject librarian who can help them with their particular major,” she said.
Fulton’s three-year term on the Library of Michigan Board will expire on Oct. 1, 2015.
