The Center for Research Libraries is pleased to announce the appointment of Lanette Garza as the NERL Program Manager. Garza comes to this new position at an important moment in NERL’s history as the NERL community has renewed energy and purpose, having issued its “Demands a Better Deal” statement in March 2021 and having recently concluded innovative, successful negotiations that will make research more openly available.
Garza was appointed through a robust community-engaged process led by a search committee consisting of Erin Haddad-Null (CRL), Jeff Kosokoff (outside consultant, chair), Jessica Morales (Notre Dame), Yelitza Mendoza (CRL), and Maggie Saponaro (U. Maryland). Garza brings to the role deep experience working with designing and maintaining workflows for the acquisition, licensing, and maintenance of all aspects of the licensed resource life cycle. She has worked in multiple library environments. Previously, Garza spent eight years working at Trinity University where noted accomplishments included developing the library’s first data center dashboard to highlight resource and library use, creating a licensing checklist to ensure fair and equitable licensing terms, establishing an E-Resources Playbook for routine assessment, and co-authoring an ALA and NEH grant to facilitate discussions and events about Latino American history.
Garza is passionate about foregrounding equity in her work and the work of research libraries, and the new energy and perspectives she provides will benefit NERL. “Lanette brings an exciting set of skills and experience to this important role,” said Greg Eow, President of CRL. “I was particularly impressed with how Lanette brought a passion for data analytics and assessment together with a passion for making the scholarly publishing more diverse and equitable.” Sarah Forzetting, Chair of the NERL Program Council Executive Committee and Associate Director, Acquisitions & Collections Services at Stanford Libraries, commends the members of the search committee and the NERL community for their contributions to the successful search. According to Forzetting, “Program Council is energized by Garza’s appointment, and we look forward to leaning on her expertise in building solid operational structures for the creative and impactful work NERL has planned.”
Garza began her appointment on February 28 and will be based in Texas.