BiblioBios: Meet Carol E. Smith, new Dean of KU Libraries

As a child, Carol E. Smith discovered dual-language books in her community library on Long Island, N.Y., poring over pages with English on one side and Spanish on the other, opening new worlds of curiosity and launching Smith on a path that has led her to become the next Dean of KU Libraries.

From a young age, Smith was drawn to libraries and librarianship, adopting the branch manager of her local library as her “first childhood hero” and drawing pictures of the library with her bed in the children’s section. At six years of age, she declared she wanted to be a librarian when she grew up — a plan she followed, although not immediately. 

Exploring the books in her local library, Smith fell in love with languages, culture, and travel, eventually majoring in Arabic and economics as an undergraduate and embarking on a 15-year career in business, including positions in the oil industry and as vice-president of a successful information research firm.

“I knew, though, that at the right point in my life I would turn my attention back to what I always said I wanted to do,” Smith said. 

The moment she chose to pursue librarianship was a challenging one, with rapid advances to the internet and mobile devices, but challenges she was keen to lean into. 

“At the time I first became a librarian, many were predicting that libraries were dying or obsolete,” Smith said, seeing potential in the moment. “But, I was most excited for libraries at the dawn of the digital age. I’m similarly enthused right now because of all the new technologies that are about to radically transform society.” 

These changes come alongside demographic shifts that will affect higher education — and a constantly shifting information landscape, and Smith resonates with the important role of libraries as community platforms in a rapidly changing world.

“We have the opportunity to participate very actively in shaping the future. Libraries are ready to meet the challenges of the day and we have a major role to play,” Smith said. 

Smith sees KU Libraries as a leader and a key collaborator in addressing these crucial issues, with expansive partnership as one of the vital elements of success. In addition to the role of libraries in facilitating knowledge creation, they are a university’s campus partners in all aspects of the curriculum and research, and they help spark powerful connections across campus and beyond.

“Even a library system the size of KU’s, with the largest collection in the state of Kansas, cannot attack these grand challenges on its own,” Smith said. “No one library can do it, so it really is about partnerships and collaboration. KU Libraries is doing so many things so well, and the opportunity to build off of that already fantastic position of strength is highly appealing. Libraries need to collaborate for example, on wholly rethinking our discovery systems to better support users and a more inclusive, expansive view of the world.” 

Harkening back to her early days exploring dual-language books in her neighborhood library, Smith has a passion for cultivating international library partnerships. She’s been in contact with colleagues around the world about continuing those relationships at KU and has been excited to learn about the relationships KU Libraries has developed over the years with international partners. 

“We’re all part of a global community,” she said. “We need to be learning from each other on a global scale and helping each other on a global scale.” 

Smith is enjoying expanding her own view of the world at her new home in Kansas. Transitioning from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo., she enjoys hiking and backpacking. The week she arrived at her new home, she ordered two books on hiking in Kansas and looks forward to getting out on area trails. 

Although Smith admits she will miss living in the mountains, she plans to visit friends there often, and the transition to Kansas feels natural to her and her husband, Joseph Armetta.

“We have friends in the Lawrence area, and we know the area and the town,” she said. “We were immediately thrilled about going back to a place that we already know and love, and that we know suits us. So, it’s a transition certainly, but a very familiar one.”

Smith took the helm as dean July 3.

BiblioBios shine a light on the people behind the collections, programs and services in KU Libraries. Find your link to important information and resources by connecting with our faculty and staff through the KU Libraries Directory. This story first appeared in the summer edition of Bibliophile, KU Libraries' semi-annual publication for alumni, friends, and benefactors.