Mary Ann Mavrinac, vice provost and Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly Dean of River Campus Libraries, has been selected for the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario College and University Library Association (OCULA).
The award recognizes Mavrinac's outstanding contributions to academic library development in Ontario, with a focus on her exceptional achievements in planning and implementing a library program that serves as a model to others. The award also acknowledges outstanding research and publication in areas of academic libraries, as well as service to library committees and organizations. In addition, Mavrinac was recognized for serving as a role model and mentor to other academic library professionals.
"Mary Ann's qualities and contributions to the field of academic librarianship, spanning close to 30 years, are truly outstanding," said Kim Stymest, business librarian at York University and Mavrinac's co-author on the book Pay it Forward: Mentoring New Information Professionals. "She demonstrates immense talent and contributions as a leader, librarian, educator, researcher, and mentor."
At the University of Rochester, Mavrinac has initiated the Rush Rhees Library Revitalization Project, a ten-year facilities and master plan. She is also leading a five-year strategic plan that will transform the River Campus Libraries into a collaborative hub of innovation. Mavrinac was instrumental in securing a $360,000 grant from the Emerson Foundation for the Seward Family Archive in the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, and is now collaborating with the Health Sciences Center for Computational Innovation (HSCCI) and Central IT on the construction and development of the Collaboratory for Data Sciences, which will be housed in Carlson Library.
Prior to joining the River Campus Libraries in June 2012, Mavrinac served as chief librarian at the University of Toronto's Mississauga campus, part of the University of Toronto Libraries that are ranked third among academic research libraries by the Association of Research Libraries. At Toronto, she spearheaded the planning and oversaw the completion of the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre, a state-of-the-art facility which received an innovation achievement award from the Canadian Association of College and University Libraries.
In 2007, Mavrinac was selected by the Association of Research Libraries as one of the 23 fellows for Research Library Leadership development, and in 2010 she served as the president of the Ontario Library Association. On the digital front, she has supervised support for the digital humanities, open access, and scholarly communications. She has been published extensively in the areas of leadership, library design, mentorship, and the future of libraries.
"OCULA is honoured to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mary Ann, a courageous and inspiring leader, and a committed and generous mentor who has devoted considerable time to extensive professional service with the Ontario Library Association," said Jennifer Peters, chair of the OCULA awards committee. "We applaud her and her accomplishments, and thank her for being such a wonderful role model for her profession."
Mavrinac holds both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of education from the University of Toronto, a master of library science from the University of Western Ontario, and a doctorate in educational leadership and change from the Fielding Graduate University.
The Ontario Library Association (OLA) is the oldest and largest library association in Canada. The OCULA division represents faculty and staff at college and university libraries on issues pertaining to academic libraries.
Mavrinac was presented the OCULA Lifetime Achievement Award on January 30 during the OLA Super Conference in Toronto, where she also led a career development and mentoring session entitled, Pay it Forward: Mentoring New information Professionals.