Kim Marsicek to Retire from WWU after 35 Years at Western Libraries
Kim Marsicek will retire from Western Washington University on June 30, 2020 after working at Western Libraries for over 35 years. Kim started her career at Western Libraries on January 2, 1985 in Circulation Services. As the years passed, Kim’s leadership role in the library grew as she accepted more responsibility, and she eventually became the Circulation Services Manager. She also became the Access Services Manager, and her leadership of Access Services overlapped with several significant changes within the Libraries, many of which impacted the circulation and media desks, the Return Room, and the course reserves program.
One of the milestones changes that occurred in the Libraries during this period was the transition away from the card catalog system to an online catalog system. Also during this period, the Libraries physical footprint expanded as the Mann Family Skybridge was constructed and the library grew to include a large portion of the Haggard Hall building. Additionally, Western Libraries joined the Cascade regional resource sharing program, which became the Orbis Cascade Alliance, the consortium responsible for the Summit borrowing and lending program.
In 2014, Kim transitioned away from her leadership role in Access Services to a leadership role as the first manager of Western’s new institutional repository, Western CEDAR. Western CEDAR is part of a global movement to promote open access to information, research, and scholarly and creative work, and it advances Western’s commitment to enriching academic inquiry and strengthening communities by sharing the expertise and creativity of WWU students, faculty, and staff worldwide.
When Kim took on the new and unprecedented role of managing Western’s institutional repository, she had an opportunity to shape, inform, and implement best practices, procedures, and operations for this valuable teaching, learning, and scholarly communications tool. Her effective leadership in this area will continue to yield dividends for the university community (and beyond!) for years to come.
Kim has expressed profound appreciation for the opportunity to work with many wonderful colleagues, and noted that many of them have also become cherished friends. She also shared how much she has enjoyed working with student colleagues, and how she has appreciated seeing them grow throughout their journey at Western. Upon retirement, Kim plans to travel the States from coast to coast with her husband, Jerry, and she also hopes to visit several locales in Europe. In addition to frequent travels, Kim plans to spend time with family and friends, and to continue to beautify her home and garden.
Kim’s leadership and service throughout these past 35 years, combined with her remarkable work ethic, her attention to detail, her thoughtful problem-solving, and her delightful sense of humor, are strengths and gifts that will be sorely missed. We at Western Libraries hope you will join us in thanking Kim for everything she has done for Western, and wish her well in her retirement.