Born and raised in Connecticut, Lori Birrell has found a new home at the University of Arkansas Libraries. The head of Special Collections assumed her new role July 10.
“I really fell in love with the people,” Birrell said of her interview experience with the U of A. “I loved the feel of the campus, that there was such a positive atmosphere.”
It was during Birrell’s time pursuing a master’s degree in history at the University of Massachusetts Amherst that she became aware of a career path in helping others with their research. Upon graduating, she enrolled in the Library and Information Science program at Simmons College. Since then, Birrell has served for six years as a Special Collections librarian for historical manuscripts at the University of Rochester, during which time she simultaneously earned her Doctor of Education degree, with a concentration in higher education administration and leadership.
Now, as the head of Special Collections for University Libraries, Birrell will support the research enterprise of the U of A by working with faculty, students and the public.
“I take our initiative as a land-grant institution very seriously and believe that the Libraries, and Special Collections in particular, play a vital role in serving the public,” she said.
Birrell’s goals include raising the profile of the Special Collections department and aligning the department’s priorities with the eight strategic priorities of the Chancellor’s Office.
In her spare time, Birrell and her husband enjoy hiking and traveling to different countries. This past spring, they spent three weeks touring Japan — with no checked luggage.
“You could just feel the history around you, and that’s one thing that has drawn me to archives,” Birrell said. “We’re documenting human experiences and human stories.”
The Special Collections department was created in 1967 to encourage research and writing in the history and culture of Arkansas and the surrounding region. Its mission is to acquire, preserve, and provide access to historical manuscripts, archives, maps, photographs, and published materials to support scholarly investigation of the state, its customs and people, and its cultural, physical, and political climate. Special Collections include manuscripts and archives, the Arkansas Collection, rare books and special libraries, photographs, broadsides, and maps.