Patricia (Pat) L. Thibodeau Oral History Interviews, 2017

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Summary

Creator:
Thibodeau, Patricia L.
Abstract:
Patricia (Pat) L. Thibodeau, former Associate Dean for Library Services and Archives at the Duke University Medical Center Library & Archives (DUMCL&A), received degrees from the University of New Hampshire and the University of Rhode Island. Prior to joining the DUMCL&A in 1993, she worked as a cataloger at Rhode Island College, Director of the Health Sciences Information Center and Research Administration at the Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, and Library Director at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (AHEC). This collection includes two oral history interviews conducted with Thibodeau on March 28 and March 29, 2017 at the time Thibodeau was preparing to retire from his position as Associate Dean for Library Services and Archives at DUMCL&A. The interviews include discussions of Thibodeau's life and career history, from her upbringing in rural New Hampshire through her achievements as Associate Dean. In addition to narrating key events, Thibodeau describes the people who influenced her philosophy of librarianship, her career-long interest in learning and applying new technologies, and the challenges of administration during times of institutional restructuring.
Extent:
2 interviews (1 transcript) and 1.52 GB
Language:
English
Collection ID:
OH.THIBODEAUP

Background

Scope and content:

Includes 2 oral history interviews with Patricia Thibodeau conducted on March 28 and March 29, 2017 by Joseph O'Connell.

At the time of the interviews, Thibodeau was preparing to retire from her position as Associate Dean for Library Services and Archives at Duke University Medical Center Library & Archives. The interviews include discussions of Thibodeau's life and career history, from her upbringing in rural New Hampshire through her achievements as Associate Dean. In addition to narrating key events, Thibodeau describes the people who influenced her philosophy of librarianship, her career-long interest in learning and applying new technologies, and the challenges of administration during times of institutional restructuring.

Biographical / historical:

As a high school student in rural New Hampshire, Patricia (Pat) Leona Thibodeau volunteered in her school library where she got hands on experience in a variety of library related tasks. After high school, she received degrees from the University of New Hampshire and the University of Rhode Island.

Upon graduation, Thibodeau took her first professional job as a cataloger at Rhode Island College. In 1977, Thibodeau was appointed Director of the Health Sciences Information Center and Research Administration at the Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island where she began her career in both administration and medical libraries. From 1983 to 1993, Thibodeau was the Library Director at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (AHEC). While at the AHEC, personal computers were first introduced into the library, and Thibodeau built the first computer training lab for AHEC staff, expanding it for health professionals. During her time at the AHEC, Thibodeau earned her MBA degree.

In 1993, Thibodeau came to what is now the Duke University Medical Center Library & Archives (DUMCL&A) as Associate Director for the Library. Shortly thereafter, she assumed responsibility for most of the activities and duties of Director, as the current Director became ill. In 1999, Thibodeau was appointed Acting Director, and, in 2000, she was officially appointed Associate Dean for Library Services and Archives. In this role, she helped forge a strong relationship between information and health sciences at the Medical Center, contributing to curriculum development and research administration in addition to leading the DUMCL&A she headed a major effort to revitalize the Library, instituting clearer policies, establishing new technology services, and fostering a culture of information science research and innovation among staff. Thibodeau remained in this position until her 2017 retirement.

Thibodeau's primary focus is on the role of health sciences libraries in the support of health professions education, clinical care, and biomedical research, including accreditation activities, scholarly communications, integration into curricula, strategic planning, and the development of library leaders. Thibodeau's involvement also includes national issues of importance to health sciences libraries and the timely access to quality health information.

Acquisition information:
Accession A2018.011 (transferred by Joe O'Connell, December 2017)
Processing information:

Processed by Lucy Waldrop: April 2018

Arrangement:
Organized into the following series: Interviews, March 28 and March 29, 2017.
Rules or conventions:
DACS

Subjects

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Personal Name(s):
Thibodeau, Patricia L.
Corporate Name(s):
Duke University. Medical Center. Library
Duke University. Medical Center. Archives
Topical Term(s):
Libraries.
Archives.
Technology.
Organization and Administration.

Contents

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Restrictions:

None.

Terms of access:

Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Patricia (Pat) L. Thibodeau Oral History Interviews, Duke University Medical Center Archives.