Cambridge gets its first woman librarian in 650 years

For the first time in its 650-year history,the University of Cambridge has appointed a woman as the University Librarian.

Anne Jarvis (Murray),who is currently the Deputy Librarian,will take over the reign from her predecessor Peter Fox,who will steps down after 15 years in office.

Cambridge is already one of the world’s great research libraries. I look forward both to building on this success and to an exciting future in which the University Library will play a leading role in providing innovative services in a rapidly changing information landscape, 46-year-old Jarvis (Murray) said.

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Cambridge University Library is home to more than eight million books and volumes. It is one of only six Legal Deposit libraries in the UK and Ireland – entitling it to a free copy of every book,journal,map and music published in the United Kingdom.

Highlights of the University Library’s special collections include the papers of Isaac Newton,an archive of Charles Darwin’s correspondence,archives of the Royal Greenwich Observatory,the library of the Royal Commonwealth Society and a copy of the Gutenberg Bible from 1455,the earliest European example of a book produced using moveable type.

Jarvis (Murray) main professional interests include emerging information technologies,succession planning,change management and digital preservation.