Michael O. Smith has been appointed director of the Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University. Alma H. Young, dean, College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs (CULMA), announced the appointment effective Jan. 1, 2004.

Smith, who served as interim director for 15 months prior to the appointment, has been with the Reuther for 14 years serving in various capacities including archivist.

"During Mike's term as interim director, he approached his duties with enthusiasm, strengthened ties with our contributing unions and worked effectively with many community and civic groups," Young said.

"Mike brings to the position several years of solid experience in numerous facets relating to the management of a national archive," Young said. "The Walter P. Reuther Library is a vital resource and archival depository for the nation, the university and CULMA. Mike has an established track record in library and archival administration and will continue to be a key component to the success of this joint resource."

The author of numerous journal articles, book reviews and co-author of three books, Smith has also served as curator for several creative shows and exhibits and has written and produced projects for television. In 1999, he received the Telly Award as producer/writer of "Forjando Una Comunidad: A History of Mexicans in Detroit," a production of the Walter P. Reuther Library and Wayne State University Television.

Smith earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Central Michigan University, a master's degree from Wayne State University and has completed graduate-level work at the University of Michigan. He also holds an Archival Administration Certificate from Wayne State.

The Walter P. Reuther Library, which operates within the College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs, is home to the Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs and the Wayne State University Archives. The Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs was established in 1960 to collect and preserve records of the American labor movement, with special emphasis on industrial unionism and related social, economic and political organizations in the United States.

Historical records related to urban affairs, with particular focus upon metropolitan Detroit, are also held in the archives. Currently, the library holdings comprise 75,000 linear feet of records, found within 1,600 individual collections and an audiovisual collection of over 2 million items.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.

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