I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Dale Askey as University Librarian for a five-year term, effective September 1, 2026. This appointment reflects UBC’s continued commitment to advancing the Library as a cornerstone of research, teaching, and learning.
Dr. Askey currently serves as Vice Provost (Library & Museums) and Chief Librarian at the University of Alberta, a role he has held since 2018. Previously, he was the Associate University Librarian for Library & Learning Technologies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where he also occupied the role of Administrative Director of the Lewis & Ruth Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship. Dr. Askey has filled a wide range of roles in libraries, primarily in collection development, public services, web services, and information technology management. He completed his PhD in 2018 at Humboldt University in Berlin, earned his MLIS from the University of Missouri in 1998, and holds a BA from Colorado College and an MA from Washington University in St. Louis, both in German language and literature.
While at the University of Alberta, Dr. Askey played a key role in the creation of the Sperber Health Sciences Library that opened in 2023 and the Kenneth and Sandra Wong Gallery, currently under construction and slated to open in 2027. He has also initiated and supported major initiatives aligned with his portfolio’s commitment to reconciliation and relations with Indigenous communities.
"I am keenly interested in updating the perception of academic libraries and ensuring that the key role they play in supporting both the teaching and research missions of the institution is present in the minds of all students and faculty," says Dr. Askey. "I’m excited to come to UBC and work with the many talented people in the Library to achieve this outcome and to foster an inclusive organization committed to reconciliation and the creation of a more equitable world."
I would also like to announce that Julie Mitchell has been appointed as University Librarian pro tem for the period July 1, 2026, until August 30, 2026. Ms. Mitchell is currently the Associate University Librarian, Teaching, Learning and Engagement, and Director of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre.
As a member of the Library’s Executive Team, Ms. Mitchell provides system-level leadership for multiple branches and service areas and has led a range of complex initiatives, including major organizational change, strategic space planning, and implementation of the Library’s Indigenous Strategic Plan. She also serves as sponsor and chair of UBC Library’s Generative AI Team, guiding the Library’s response to emerging technologies and their implications for research, teaching, and academic integrity.
Dr. Susan Parker’s term as University Librarian will conclude on June 30, 2026, when she retires. I would like to thank Dr. Parker for her dedicated service to the university since 2017. She has served as University Librarian during a period characterized by rising concerns over predatory practices by the publishing industry, and she was instrumental in offering innovative Library support to students during the Covid-19 pandemic. During her term in office, the Chung | Lind Gallery opened in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre and the UBC Library purchased a Shakespeare first folio.
My thanks to the members of the President's Advisory Committee for their thoughtful leadership throughout this process, and to the many students, faculty, and staff whose perspectives helped inform and strengthen the search.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Askey on his appointment and in thanking Ms. Mitchell for serving as University Librarian pro tem. I look forward to working with Dr. Askey and the UBC Library leadership team.
Gage Averill
Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver