Richard M. Dougherty

Interim Dean of the School of Library Science 1984-85

Richard M. Dougherty served as interim dean of the School of Library Science for one year, from 1984 to1985. He held this position in trust for the dean-designate, Robert M. Warner, who was completing his appointment as the sixth archivist of the United States.

Dougherty received his BS degree from Purdue University in 1959 and his MLS and PhD degrees from Rutgers University, in 1961 and 1963, respectively. He held positions at Rutgers University, the University of North Carolina, the University of Colorado, Syracuse University and the University of California, Berkeley, before joining the University of Michigan faculty in 1978 as director of the University Library and professor of library science.

Dougherty was a compelling and forceful advocate of core values in librarianship throughout his extensive professional career. As president of the American Library Association from 1990 to 1991, he helped bring information access issues to the attention of the general public and mounted a literacy and reading campaign for children.

As U-M library director from 1978 to 1988, he spearheaded initiatives that resulted in computerized access to the library's catalogs. From 1974 to 1994, he was the publisher of the Journal of Academic Librarianship, providing an important venue for discussion and dissemination of library issues and developments. Internationally recognized for his vision and articulation of key challenges confronting academic libraries, he was active as a speaker and consultant in national and international venues.

Dougherty received numerous honors during his career, including the ALA Joseph Lippincott Award in 1997 for distinguished service to the profession of librarianship. In 1983, he was named Academic Librarian of the Year by the Association of College and Research Libraries. In 1988, he was honored as the first recipient of the Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award given by ALA for accomplishments of an academic librarian in improving library services. He has received two honorary degrees: from Purdue University in 1991 and from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, in 1995.

In December 1997, he retired from the university with the status of professor emeritus of information and continued to serve the library field as president of his own consulting firm, Dougherty and Associates.