Obituary: Patricia Morris, University Libraries, CU-Boulder

Patricia Morris, associate professor and faculty director of preservation for University Libraries at the University of Colorado at Boulder, died on May 7, 2010.

As detailed on the American Library Association Preservation Administration Discussion Group, Morris had a long history in collections preservation. Prior to her position at CU-Boulder she worked at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History for 11 years as director of collections management, and two earlier years as supervisor of conservation services.

From 1993 to 2001, she served as adjunct faculty at the University of South Carolina in the College of Library and Information Science teaching preservation administration. She served on the South Carolina State Historical Records Advisory Board as deputy coordinator for most of the 1990s. She was archivist for the Tennessee State Library and Archives from 1980 to 1987.

Morris published extensively on topics such as managing the preservation environment, survey tools and emergency planning and response, and gave many excellent presentations.

Her service at the University Libraries was characterized by a broad vision that encompassed the management and preservation of library resources; the design and operation of buildings and facilities that contribute to the longevity of materials; and the utilization of all available technologies to assure the protection and preservation of physical objects, to enable greater access to them by students and scholars; and to preserve their intellectual content.

Her vision, determination, skill in planning and carrying through immense and complex projects, and her ability to perceive problems in terms of their total context, will be greatly missed by the libraries.

A memorial service for Pat Morris will be held in the fall in Estes Park to coincide with the Estes Park Highland Festival. Contributions in her name may be made to the Rocky Mountain Scottish Terrier Club Rescue Fund (www.rockymountainscottierescue.org).