UT dean of libraries Steve Smith today announced a sweeping reorganization of the Libraries’ executive staff. Amid rumors of fractiousness and insubordination in the administrative suite, Smith has fired and replaced the Libraries’ three former associate deans.

Smith characterizes his newly hired team of associate deans as “a new breed of leadership for the UT Libraries. I anticipate that Ady, our new associate dean for scholarly communication and research services, will shepherd the UT Libraries into a new era of scholarly performance. Ricky Bobby, associate dean for collections, is known to be tenacious in pursuit of his goals, yet service-oriented. And I anticipate that Hank Jr., my new executive associate dean, will be a trustworthy and loyal companion.”

In brief telephone interviews, ousted top officers begged to differ. “I was hounded from office,” said former AD for collections Sandra Leach. Former AD for scholarly communication Holly Mercer claimed that even well justified criticism had been muzzled. “I was simply labeled disloyal and willful,” Mercer stated. Former executive associate dean Rita Smith had only biting disdain for replacement Hank Jr.: “Loyal companion? He’s a bootlicker, a jester!”

Despite these dogged recriminations, dean of libraries Steve Smith was forbearing in his response: “I just want to wish everyone a HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S DAY!”