Akos Delneky named Director of Library Services
Following a national search, EVMS has chosen an individual with extensive experience in higher education to serve as Director of Library Services at the Brickell Medical Sciences Library.
Akos Delneky, EdD, MLIS, brings to the role nearly 20 years of progressive leadership experience in academic libraries including universities and colleges. He follows Kerrie Shaw, MS, MSLS, who retired in January following a 47-year career at EVMS.
The change in leadership also includes the promotion of April Pace, MLS, from Education Coordinator to Associate Director for Library Services.
“I am grateful to the search committee for its work to evaluate so many capable candidates,” says Elza Mylona, PhD, MBA, who oversees the library as Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness. “Dr. Delneky rose above the group and brings an impressive academic background to his new role here at EVMS.”
Dr. Delneky comes to EVMS following service as Administrative Director of Library Services at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Fla. There, he led a complex library organization serving five campus and a virtual campus. In 2020, he acquired the permanent loan of a collection of historical newspapers, helped win funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to preserve local African American culture, oversaw the expansion of services at the college’s main campus and hosted a Disability Awareness Day for the college and the community.
Previously, Dr. Delneky was Associate Library Director at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, where he was a member of the Library Management Leadership Team. He also served as Director of Library and Learning Resources at Valencia College, Osceola Campus Library in Kissimmee, Fla., and held increasingly responsible positions in Florida libraries at Valencia College, Hodges University, International College and with the Orange County Library System.
His undergraduate degree is in history and he says he looks forward to visiting historic destinations locally and throughout Virginia.
Kerrie Shaw was only the second person in the school’s history to exceed 45 years of service to the institution.
“Kerrie had a long and successful career at EVMS and I’m grateful for her service to the EVMS Community, “ Dr. Mylona says.
Ms. Shaw came to Virginia from Minnesota for her education, met her fiancée, a Norfolk native, and never left. A family friend suggested she apply for a job at EVMS, which was just opening in 1973.
Ms. Shaw began as a library assistant, later serving as Access Services Librarian, Public Services Coordinator and most recently Director of Library Services. She was one of the first librarians trained to search Medline (now PubMed) and databases developed by the National Library of Medicine. Each time the library has moved over the years, Ms. Shaw planned and oversaw the move.
Dr. Mylona says Ms. Pace brings complimentary skills to her new role.
“April has extensive administrative experience and is committed to the institution and to the mission of the library,” Dr. Mylona says.
Ms. Pace has served as Education Coordinator for the EVMS library since 2000. She is the evidence-based medicine (EBM) thread director for the medical school curriculum and teaches EBM in the Health Professions program. She has previous experience as library director for a multi-campus academic system where she also held the position of institutional effectiveness and planning officer. In addition to her teaching role, she is also a student and will complete the EVMS Doctor of Health Sciences program this spring.
She is a long-term follower of the Liverpool Football Club and looks forward to travelling with her family to archaeologic and geologic destinations again after graduation.