Xan Arch named new dean of University of Portland’s Clark Library

Library

June 10, 2016

The University of Portland recently announced Xan Arch has been named the new Dean of the Clark Library. She replaces Drew Harrington, who retired after serving as dean for 10 years. Arch will start in her new position on August 22.

Arch comes to the University from Reed College, where she has served most recently as the Director of Collection Services. Prior to that, she served in several posts in the Stanford University Libraries, culminating her service there as the Electronic Resources and Technology Librarian.

Arch was the 2013 recipient of the Esther J. Piercy Award, given by the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services to a person who has shown “outstanding promise for continuing contribution and leadership.”

The author of numerous articles, Arch is active on several national and regional library boards. She has also been on the editorial board for Collection Management and served as a reviewer for professional journals. Her service and leadership to the Orbis Cascade Alliance is well-known and widely respected.

“Whether I am interfacing with faculty, donors, library vendors, exploring technologies that could deliver more to our library users, or adding to our professional knowledge base through publications and conference presentations, I am passionate about librarianship as a new way to connect people with information,” said Arch.

Arch has a B.A. in English and French Literatures and an M.A. in English Literature from Stanford University. She also has an M.S. in Library Science from San Jose State University.