Reitrement of University Librarian Artemis Kirk

Artemis G. Kirk, the University Librarian, has retired after 16 years of service to Georgetown University. As University Librarian, she oversaw the entire Geogretown University Library system – including the Joseph Mark Lauinger Memorial Library, Blommer Science Library, School of Continuing Studies Library, and Woodstock Theological Library. Beginning her career at Georgetown in 2001, she has always gone above and beyond to innovate the way that the university libraries serve students. With her vision, the Library helped launch Digital Georgetown, the University’s institutional repository and open access content provider of scholarship and resources created at Georgetown. In addition, she led the fundraising initiative and planning of the new Booth Family Center for Special Collections which houses the University’s Archives and other valuable treasures. Overall, she led the University to fundraise almost $24 million for Georgetown’s For Generations to Come campaign.

Kirk recalls many favorite projects and fond memories – including adding new resources to the library such as, in her own words, “the finest collection in private hands in the world, of rare materials on Wordsworth and his Circle — a gift of Professor Emeritus of English Paul Betz.” Another fond memory of hers includes her trip to Doha, Qatar to create a plan for the library at SFS-Q.

Her work has spanned internationally in many respects. She worked with the Pontifical Institute libraries in Rome and contributed to the development of the “Lauinger Library in London” program and the proposed Jesuit Liberal Arts College for Hong Kong. Under her leadership, Georgetown has become a member of numerous national and international higher education and information associations.

We are grateful to Artemis Kirk for the energy and creativity that she brought to her position for 16 years. We would also like to thank Peggy Fry who has stepped in as Interim University Librarian as the university conducts an international search for the next University Librarian.