Wendy McGrane has been named the new library director for Spiva Library.

McGrane, who previously held the position of reference and instruction librarian, was appointed last week by Dr. Larry Martin, vice president for academic affairs.

“She’s been a good learner, open to suggestions to try to open a line of communication with other areas of campus,” Martin said. “We got input from constituents of the library and decided to keep her in the position because she does a good job.”

Martin also said she has established liaisons with faculty in every department on campus, which is important.

McGrane joined the Missouri Southern staff in the summer of 1999. Although she did not graduate from Southern, she did spend two years of her college career here. In 1991, McGrane obtained her bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in English from Mercer University in Macon, Ga. She later obtained her master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1995. Before she worked at Southern, she worked at the Joplin Public Library where the last position she held was adult services librarian, responsible for circulation and reference.

“I was going to apply for the position whether or not there was an internal or external search [to fill the position], because I was interested in becoming the library director,” she said.

McGrane has already been involved in major improvements and projects. She has been responsible for coordinating library migration to a new computer system. She also wrote a grant that brought in an expert consultant to come and look at different issues of the library’s internal and external communications. This was to help improve its practices and services, which McGrane said has helped the library evolve. She also personally helped moved periodicals and books in preparation for the construction last year.

The library is in the process of reviewing bids for selecting a new subscription agent. In the future, McGrane wants to sit down with the other librarians and rewrite the mission statement and discuss new goals.

“She’s very professional and very good with communication in the library,” said Ann Quade, secretary of Spiva Library. “Everyone is very pleased.”

“I haven’t been here very long, and she made me feel very welcome,” said Nancy Schiavone, reference and instruction librarian of Spiva. “She’s done a good job making sure everyone is informed.”

McGrane likes the variety and because it’s a small organization, she gets to play very active roles. She said there is always something to do that keeps her learning new things and keeps her involved.

“It’s been a terrific opportunity for me and I enjoy it,” McGrane said. “I look forward to being here for a long time.”