Lydia M. Acosta Appointed as Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian of NSU

Lydia M. Acosta

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE Fla. —- Lydia M. Acosta will join Nova Southeastern University (NSU) as Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian on July 1st, 2008. The appointment was announced by NSU President Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D., last week.

“Ms. Acosta comes to us with a distinguished record of leadership in the library sciences,” said Ferrero. “She has demonstrated unique skills in library operations, applied technology and community outreach. We are delighted that she has chosen to join NSU.”

Acosta will be responsible for setting the strategic direction and managing the daily operations of the NSU library system. As such, she will manage the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center on NSU’s main campus, a joint-use facility between the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and NSU. As the largest library facility in Florida, the Sherman Library is a national model for a successful public-private partnership. University and public services are offered together in a beautiful 325,000 square foot facility complete with theatre, café, and gallery space. Other responsibilities within the library system include the NSU’s East Campus Branch Library, Health Professions Division Library, Shepard Broad Law Library and Technology Center, North Miami Beach Branch Library, and William S. Richardson Ocean Sciences Library.

Acosta joins NSU after directing the East Baton Rouge (Louisiana) Parish Library comprised of a main library, 12 branches, a bookmobile and two outreach service centers. Under her leadership, she oversaw the completion of four new community branches and the development of the building program for a new main library. Acosta also led successful fund raising efforts for new library programs, and initiated monthly library cable television programming.

“While I have loved working in the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system, I was unable to resist this challenge to apply my combined experience of university and public library service at NSU,” said Acosta.

Acosta received her A.A. degree from Brevard Community College, her B.A. degree in Spanish secondary education from the University of South Florida, and her M.A. degree in library science from the University of South Florida. She began her library career at the University of Tampa. She worked at the university for more than 20 years, serving as Library Director for 18 of those years. Acosta then became Dean of Library and Learning Resources at Chicago State University. Following her tenure at Chicago State, she was appointed as Director of the Fountaindale Public Library District in the Chicago suburbs, the position she held before moving to the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system.

About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 300 beautiful acres in Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University is a dynamic fully accredited institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs of distinction from preschool through the professional and doctoral levels. NSU has more than 26,000 students and is the sixth largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally. The university awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields, including business, counseling, computer and information sciences, education, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, various health professions, law, marine sciences, early childhood, psychology and other social sciences. For more information visit www.nova.edu.

Media Contact:
Lourdes Rodriguez-Barrera, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5309 Office, 954-445-1287 Mobile, rodrlour@nsu.nova.edu