As we reflect on the past year at the University of Tennessee Libraries, two defining themes stand out: change and excellence. More than a transition, change is an engine of progress—it invites us to innovate, adapt, and grow. It challenges us to honor our enduring mission while reimagining the ways we support learning, research, and discovery. In truth, change and excellence are inseparable: only through continual change can true excellence be developed, refined, and sustained.
This past year brought purposeful change in leadership that strengthens our foundation for excellence. Jennie Mezick, Associate Dean for Research, Collections, and Assessment, is advancing the reach and accessibility of our scholarly resources. Jen Bartlett, Associate Dean for Engagement, Learning, and Public Services, is deepening our connections across the Volunteer community to enrich teaching and learning. Elizabeth Greene, now Senior Associate Dean for Finance, Administration, and Operations, is guiding our financial and strategic planning to ensure long-term growth and stability. Together, this new leadership team is fostering innovation, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence that will define the UT Libraries for years to come.
Collaboration across campus remains a hallmark of our progress and a catalyst for change. Our new Patent and Trademark Resource Center, carried out in partnership with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, expands support for inventors and entrepreneurs throughout the university community. The UT Learn@Research LibForum, launched with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, equips researchers with emerging tools and methodologies that advance discovery. Our ongoing partnership with the VolShop is reducing student costs and expanding access to free course materials—an innovation that directly supports academic success and equitable learning.
The UT Libraries is also leading change on a national scale. During the 2025–26 academic year, we hosted two major gatherings that spotlight our role in shaping the future of academic libraries: the 2025 Association of Creative Technologies in Academic Libraries Conference and the 2026 spring meeting of the Association of Research Libraries. These events will convene thought leaders and innovators from across the country to explore transformative ideas, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of libraries as engines of excellence, discovery, and community engagement.
Our progress and promise rest on the creativity and commitment of our faculty, staff, and student employees. Their dedication—whether in adapting services, creating new programs, or supporting our users—embodies the spirit of change and the pursuit of excellence that define the UT Libraries. With the continued support of our students, faculty, alumni, and friends, we are reimagining what it means to be a library in the 21st century: dynamic in purpose, innovative in practice, and essential to the pursuit of knowledge and discovery.