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            Auburn University - University Relations
                         (334) 844-9999
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5/8/95                                   Bob Lowry

HIGHFILL TO RELINQUISH DUTIES AS DEAN OF LIBRARIES AT AU

      AUBURN -- William Highfill, dean of libraries at Auburn 
University since 1973, has asked to relinquish his position and will be 
appointed as social sciences reference librarian, Provost Paul Parks says.
      Highfill will leave his position effective June 15 and take a 
professional improvement leave during the summer. He will start his new 
job on Sept. 16.
      Parks said Bobby Holloway, assistant dean and Librarian III, will 
serve as acting dean during the summer and will be appointed interim dean 
on Sept. 16.
      During  HighfillÕs tenure at AU, the Ralph Brown Draughon Library 
doubled in size with a $20.5 million, 207,000-square-foot addition in 
1991, the library collection grew from 850,000 volumes to more than 2.1 
million volumes and the Draughon Library became a member of the 
prestigious Association of Research Libraries.
      ÒAuburn University is very appreciative of the work Bill Highfill 
did to help upgrade our library facilities and services over the past 22 
years,Ó said Parks. ÒThe library addition and membership in the ARL 
certainly were notable highlights in the history of our library.Ó
      Highfill, who has a Ph.D. in library science from the University 
of Illinois, came to Auburn on Aug. 1, 1973, from East Texas State 
University, where he was director of libraries.
        He was a founding member of the Network of Alabama Academic 
Libraries and the Southeastern Library Network. Highfill was president of 
the ALA in 1979-80 and has chaired several subgroups within the ALA.
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