The administration coordinates the work of other library departments, and oversees all library activities to ensure that projects and goals meet the broader mission of the institution and meet or exceed academic library standards. We welcome your suggestions and comments on the library.
The Gordon Library staff support the WPI community with their information and research needs. Consult our staff directory below for department descriptions and staff contact information. To contact the library, email library@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5410.
Administration
Anna Gold joined the WPI community as University Librarian in 2017; she brought with her a passion for and dedication to polytechnic learning and interdisciplinary research.
She began her career as a research librarian at the Library of Congress. In 1994 she joined the National Science Foundation (NSF), where she served as library director before becoming manager of NSF’s public website.
Prior to joining WPI, she served as head of science and engineering libraries at the University of California at San Diego and MIT before returning to California as dean of library services at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, leading her team to receive the Association of College and Research Libraries’ national award for Excellence in Academic Libraries. She has also led redesign projects that allow university libraries to better serve as vibrant and productive working and learning spaces.
Gold earned a BA in literature at the University of California Santa Cruz, a master of library science at the Catholic University of America, and an MS in science and technology studies at Virginia Tech.
Diane provides clerical, administrative, and event support to the University Librarian and to all library staff. Diane ensures that the Gordon Library is a safe and comfortable place for students, faculty, and staff to study, meet, and socialize.
Access Services & Outreach
Access Services & Outreach oversees the following services: borrowing, course reserves, interlibrary loan, document delivery, and resource sharing with other libraries. We also are responsible for seeing that all items are returned to the shelves, oversee Tech Suite Reservations, and monitor the building for safety. Our focus is on customer service and we welcome all feedback and suggestions. Email us at accessservices@wpi.edu.
Amy is Head of the Access Services and Outreach Department which manages Inter-Library Loan, Course Reserves, Student Employment and Outreach programs. The Access Service and Outreach Department also oversees Anderson Lab A, the Gordon Conference Room and Tech Suite reservations as well as the overall safety of the building.
Robin is part of the Access Services and Outreach team. She supervises student information desk employees, provides research assistance, and processes interlibrary loan requests.
Judy oversees and processes interlibrary loan requests for WPI-owned material that is sent to other libraries and institutions worldwide. Judy also assists at the Information Desk.
Lynn is part of the Access Services and Outreach team. She supervises student information desk employees, provides research assistance, and processes interlibrary loan requests.
Samantha is part of the Access Services and Outreach team. She supervises the information desk student staff, processes reserve materials, and is in charge of stack maintenance.
Library Academic Strategies
The Academic Strategies Department is informed by an integrative vision for achieving high impacts in learning and research at WPI and in library practice, bringing together expert library staff to deliver: information, digital, and scholarly communication literacies of WPI students, faculty, and staff; quality access to information through collection assessment and development; information discovery through resource description and information systems; high quality user experiences in library virtual interfaces through good UX design; and continuous assessment and improvement of library impacts on WPI's institutional goals.
Lori Ostapowicz-Critz
Assoc Dir, Academic Strategy
Library
Email: lostapowiczcritz@wpi.edu
Phone: 508-831-6252
As Associate Director for Library Academic Strategies, Lori manages the Research & Instruction, Collections & Systems Management, Faculty Research Support, and Digital Academic Strategies programs. These programs ensure the Library continues to provide significant impacts on research and learning at WPI.
Martha is responsible for managing access to print journals, eJournals, and eBooks through the library catalog, e-Resources Portal, and in Summon. She is the library's representative to inFIRE.
Steve is responsible for acquiring print, electronic and other materials for the Gordon Library, based on the direction of the Collection Assessment and Development Librarian, the professors’ needs and requests from WPI staff and students. He also does the cataloging and end-processing of materials as they arrive, preparing them for circulation out of the library.
Teresa is responsible for the selection, acquisition and assessment of the library’s print and electronic collections.
Aaron oversees Gordon Library's discovery and delivery systems, and manages library metadata strategies.
Paige assists students, faculty, and staff in conducting research through individual, team, and classroom-based consultations. She/her/hers.
As a Librarian for Digital Academic Strategies, Anna is responsible for supporting digital scholarship activities and coordinating the Gordon Library's web strategy.
As the Digital Repository and Metadata Assistant, Emily works with the maintenance of metadata and management of Digital WPI, WPI's institutional repository. she/her/hers.
As a Research & Instruction Librarian, Jess provides research assistance to students, faculty, and staff through individual and group consultations, in-class instruction, and online tutorials. She/her/hers.
As Librarian, Faculty Development and Research Support Lead, Laura assists with discovery and management of resources, navigating copyright and author's rights issues, deciding where to publish, assessing scholarly impact, and development of scholarly online profiles. She coordinates MQP research support and is the primary contact person for Studio@Gordon.
Lori Steckervetz
Research & Instr. Librarian
Library
Email: llsteckervetz@wpi.edu
Phone: 508-831-5468
As a Research & Instruction Librarian, Lori provides research assistance to students, faculty, and staff through individual and group consultations, in-class instruction, and online tutorials. She also coordinates library instruction support for the Great Problems Seminar. Preferred pronouns are she/her/hers.
As Librarian, Global Programs, Phil serves as the library liaison to Global Programs to support their project-based learning curriculum and associated learning spaces in the Foisie Innovation Studio. As the Coordinator for Undergraduate Learning, Phil leads the setting of goals and priorities for the library's undergraduate instruction program and coordinates the assessment of the instruction program. As an instructor, Phil provides research assistance to students, faculty, and staff through individual and group consultations, in-class instruction, and online tutorials.
Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections actively collects, preserves, and makes available university records, historical and cultural collections, artwork, and objects of enduring value. The Archives provides services to the WPI community, scholarly researchers, and the broader public.
As Assistant Director for Archives and Special Collections, Arthur oversees the University Archives, Rare Books & Art, and Manuscript collections. These collections support the teaching curriculum, document history and culture, and serve as the institutional memory of WPI.
Kathy curates the rare book and art collections, and is responsible for the library's preservation services including repairing circulating books and conserving materials from Archives & Special Collections. Kathy curates exhibitions in the Gladwin Gallery and provides fabrication and installation support for library exhibits. In addition to providing teaching and programming for special collections, she is a resource to the community on the care and conservation of books and artwork.