Diane Dallis-Comentale Image Source: Indiana University Libraries
Diane Dallis-Comentale, who has served as Interim Dean of IU Libraries since July 1, 2021, has been named the new Ruth Lilly Dean of University Libraries at Indiana University effective April 15, subject to approval by the IU Board of Trustees.
Provost and Executive Vice President Rahul Shrivastav made the announcement Wednesday, March 23. Dallis-Comentale previously served as associate dean for planning and administration at IU Libraries. “I want to thank Diane Dallis-Comentale for her exemplary leadership during a period of transition—and particularly during a global pandemic—which required an innovative approach to supporting a student body that was largely online,” Shrivastav said. “I am impressed with her vision for the Libraries, which will play an important role in supporting growth in IU’s third century, and am looking forward to working with her on our next set of leading-edge innovations.”
Dallis-Comentale was named associate dean for administration and planning with IU Libraries in June 2018. Throughout her career she has overseen strategic planning and assessment, business and financial services, communications, and human resources. She has led the creation of transformative new services and renovations in the Wells Library, including the Learning Commons, the Moving Image Archive, the Scholars’ Commons, and the creation of the Grad Commons space for a new generation of researchers. Prior to this role, Dallis-Comentale served as Associate University Librarian for Research and Instruction at the University of Chicago Library for one year, where she directed new initiatives and services and created or strengthened partnerships with several major units across campus.
“It is an honor to lead the librarians and staff of this exceptional organization who have demonstrated a positive impact on the teaching and research mission of the university,” Dallis-Comentale said. “The IU Libraries, including the IU Press, have been national leaders of change and innovation, and we are ready to build upon our past successes with new integrative approaches to campus-wide scholarship, diverse collections, and educational enrichment. I’m proud to join a leadership team poised to advance the University’s position in higher education, and the Libraries will be integral to a stronger future for IU.”
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area.
He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
