Nicholson Library celebrates 25 years with PALNI

Anderson, Ind. — Anderson University’s Nicholson Library celebrated the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana Inc. (PALNI)’s 25th anniversary as one of the founding institutions in a day-long event at Marian University’s Allison Mansion this spring. The PALNI organization has successfully partnered to provide the systems, expertise, and resources to support collaboration, innovation, learning, and efficiency for all twenty-two PALNI institutions and their libraries since 1992.

The PALNI board of directors has committed to “deep collaboration” between PALNI institutions, providing better service to students and faculty by sharing resources to reduce duplication and fuel innovation. PALNI Executive Director Kirsten Leonard, said “PALNI is a trailblazer in working together at scale. Consortia worldwide are looking to PALNI for guidance and for what new services we will develop next.”

Library Director Janet Brewer said, “Anderson University’s Nicholson Library’s participation in PALNI has been of immense benefit to the ways in which we are able to provide the very best resources and services to our students.”

Leonard presented the “Hall of Fame” award to AU librarian James Bell. He, among others, was selected from the input of all library staff because he has helped to create the synergistic environment, strategic direction, and innovative services PALNI has achieved through working together across all the PALNI colleges and universities.

[Photo: James Bell, Anderson University Librarian, smiles as he receives his induction to the PALNI Hall of Fame award at the 25th Anniversary awards session. Megan West/PALNI]

PALNI is a non-profit organization supporting collaboration for library and information services to the libraries of its twenty-two supported institutions. Over time, the library deans and directors who sit on the PALNI board have adjusted the organization’s strategic direction as the internet and information services landscape have changed. PALNI has expanded beyond providing a resource management system to sharing expertise in many areas including strategic planning, reference, information fluency, outreach, data management and configuration, and has identified greater collaboration in acquisitions as a key goal. To learn more, visit www.palni.edu.