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Call for Nominations – Advisory Committee for the University Chief Librarian, University of Toronto Libraries (PDAD&C #10) 

From: Trevor Young, Vice-President and Provost 
Date: September 17, 2025 
Re: Call for Nominations – Advisory Committee for the University Chief Librarian, University of Toronto Libraries (PDAD&C #10) 

On June 30, 2026, Larry Alford completes his current term as University Chief Librarian of the University of Toronto Libraries (UTL). He has indicated he will not be seeking re-appointment. Alford has served since July 2011, and has been a distinguished and visionary leader of UTL, which provides services across all three campuses and through forty libraries and the digital library at the University. His exceptional service has included the construction of the Robarts Commons, championing open access publishing, and developing new services for students and researchers. Those services include a robust Research Data Management support Infrastructure, the Syllabus and Copyright Services, digitization and digital preservation, building robust support for digital and AI enabled research, and renovations across the libraries that have greatly improved student experience.  He also led the libraries through the pandemic, ensuring students and faculty could maintain access to essential collections, services and spaces. UTL is the largest academic library in Canada and is consistently ranked in the top five among peer institutions in North America. 

Alford has been involved in many professional organizations, including serving as President of the Association of Research Libraries and as board member of both the Canadian Association of Research Libraries and the Canadian Research Knowledge Network. He is a current member of the board of the Digital Research Alliance of Canada and the Center for Research Libraries. Prior to his appointment as Chief Librarian, Alford was the Dean of University Libraries at Temple University. He also received the Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award (2018), the CARL Award for Distinguished Service to Research Librarianship (2021), and the Ron MacDonald Distinguished Service Award (2022). 

Please join me in thanking Larry Alford for his dedicated service over the past fourteen years.  

In accordance with Section 86 of the Policies for Librarians, I am writing to call for nominations of individuals to serve on the search committee that will advise the President on the appointment of the University Chief Librarian.  

The Policy mandates the composition of an advisory committee as follows:  

  • the Vice-President and Provost or designate (Chair) 
  • twelve additional members, of whom: 
  • no fewer than seven shall be appointed from within the Library system, and  
  • no fewer than four will be librarians at U of T (normally at least three of whom shall have permanent status);  
  • a faculty member who shall hold tenure or continuing status; and  
  • one or more students.   

The committee will be appointed by the Vice-President and Provost and be as representative of the University community as is feasible. 

The committee will begin meeting in the coming months. Nominations for the committee should be submitted to the Office of the Vice-President & Provost by October 1, 2025, via the online form.  

Questions about this search process may be directed to Special Projects Officer, Toks Weah (toks.weah@utoronto.ca).