Paul Gallagher, director of library operations at Wayne State University, was recently selected to serve as a Michigan at-large library representative board member for the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS). Participants were selected for the 2015 MCLS board based on the nominating committee's proposal of candidates and by the votes of the member representatives. Gallagher was one of five candidates selected from Indiana and Michigan to become a member of the MCLS.  

At MCLS, Gallagher will work to provide member institutions with access to information and technology tools, professional development opportunities, and assistance with collaborative efficiencies. "Being able to serve the larger library community is one of the values important to the Wayne State libraries," said Gallagher. "I'm looking forward to representing Michigan and Wayne State as we work with the MCLC member intuitions."

Gallagher has been with the Wayne State Library System since 2008, serving in several roles including developer librarian and associate director of discovery services. He received both his bachelor's of fine arts and his master's in library and information science from Wayne State University. He also has more than a decade of experience with private sector information technology. 

MCLS was formed to facilitate the sharing of resources among libraries to enhance the availability of information resources to patrons and encourage libraries to institute cost-effective procedures that are made possible through interlibrary cooperation. Centered in Lansing, Michigan, MCLS is made up of member libraries that partner for top-notch support and reliable information on new products and services. As a nonprofit library collaborative, MCLS is owned and governed by its members.

The Wayne State University Library System consists of the university's five libraries: The David Adamany Undergraduate Library, the Purdy/Kresge Library, the Shiffman Medical Library, the Arthur Neef Law Library and the Reuther Library, as well as the School of Library and Information Science and the Detroit Area Library Network.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 380 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 27,000 students.