Golden State Today

William Garrity, the deputy university librarian and chief operating officer of UC Davis, has been appointed as the next university librarian and vice provost of digital scholarship. Garrity, who has held the interim position since July 2023, will officially assume his new role on May 15.

"UC Davis has a highly respected Library with a dedicated, exceptional team, and its reputation attracted candidates from across the country," said Mary Croughan, provost and executive vice chancellor. "Bill has been doing a stellar job in the interim role since last year. He is highly collaborative and innovative, and dedicated to serving our campus community with excellence. We are thrilled he will continue in this leadership position."

The appointment follows a nationwide search launched by UC Davis in 2023 after the retirement of MacKenzie Smith, who served as the university librarian and vice provost of digital scholarship for 11 years.

Garrity joined UC Davis in 2014 and brings decades of experience enhancing the role of libraries in higher education's research, teaching, healthcare, and service missions. As deputy university librarian and chief operating officer, he managed most of the library’s 160 academic and non-academic employees while overseeing divisions focused on faculty support, student learning success, space projects, communications, human resources, and administrative operations.

"I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to continue working with our brilliant and dedicated library team," said Garrity. "I see the role of the library as a catalyst for engagement — a 'third space' where users can connect and enrich their understanding. My goal is for every person on campus to be able to say, 'Yes, the library has helped me.'"

In collaboration with Smith, Garrity restructured library operations to meet transformative changes such as integrating digital services into traditional library offerings; focusing on diversity; equity; inclusion; adapting to new ways people work post-pandemic.

Under Garrity's interim leadership, the library expanded its services beyond its walls to integrate more fully with other parts of campus. He remains committed to enhancing the library’s strengths by building strong physical and digital collections and supporting the library team.

Garrity began his career in librarianship at the University of Chicago, followed by leadership positions at Dartmouth and the University of Pennsylvania before joining UC Davis. He holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Siena College in New York and a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from the University of Chicago.