Elsa Álvaro appointed AUL for Collections and Access

Dean of Libraries Xuemao Wang has appointed Elsa Álvaro as the Associate University Librarian (AUL) for Collections and Access for the Northwestern University Libraries, effective October 1, 2024.  

As the AUL for Collections & Access, Álvaro will articulate organization-wide strategies and implement solutions for the development of and access to all library collections. The Northwestern Libraries holdings — including general collections, special collections, archives and distinctive collections — includes over eight million titles and 304 terabytes of unique digital content.  This role also will lead librarians and staff across all operational areas of the organization to achieve strategic collections objectives. She will define and advance strategies to fulfill the information resource needs of the Northwestern community and pursue innovation, efficiency and cross-institutional collaboration in discovery and delivery of scholarly materials. She will take an active role in developing and maximizing cooperative relationships in the context of the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) and other consortia, as well as building partnerships with faculty across campus. 

"It is a pleasure to hear of Elsa Álvaro’s appointment,” said Laura Hein, The Harold H. and Virginia Anderson Professor of History in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and chair of the Libraries Faculty Advisory Committee. “I know she will bring energy, imagination, intelligence, and collegiality to her new role.” 

The AUL for Collections & Access has supervisory and management responsibility for the staff and activities of three departments: the Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives, Distinctive Collections and Research Services, and Access Services. Álvaro has been serving in this AUL role in an interim capacity since June of this year, when these departments were aligned in a single portfolio in order to capitalize on cross-departmental synergy. 

“Elsa’s readiness to lead a holistic collection and scholarly resources program across all formats and types of collections complements her knowledge of emerging trends in scholarly publishing, her deep history with Northwestern and our libraries, and her broad engagement with faculty across disciplines. Her experience and expertise will enable her to move the libraries toward the fulfillment of our vision,” said Xuemao Wang, Northwestern’s Dean of Libraries.  

Prior to this, Álvaro served as Northwestern Libraries’ Director of Academic Engagement since 2018. In that role, Elsa led the Northwestern Libraries’ liaison program, acting as the subject specialist for the Chemistry department; directed the Libraries’ engagement programs, including new student programs and orientations, as well as co-curricular programs focused on student success and enrichment of the student experience; oversaw the Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies and the Transportation Library; and managed the services of the Joan P. McGowan Information Commons and the Eloise Martin Reading Room. 

Álvaro received a master’s degree in library science from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a doctorate in chemistry from Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain. She is active in several professional organizations, including the Association of Research Libraries, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Big Ten Academic Alliance, and the American Chemical Society. She has also served on numerous Northwestern committees, including the Faculty Senate.