April 16, 2025

To the Drexel Community:

We are already in the thick of the spring term, and it’s energizing to see the campus—and especially the W. W. Hagerty Library—buzzing with activity. I have spent plenty of time on Drexel’s campus in my role as Executive Director of the Library & Archives of the Academy of Natural Sciences and invited professor in the Department of History, but this term feels different.

Since starting my appointment as the Interim Head of the Drexel Libraries at the end of January, I have had the great fortune to get to know our library resources and services, as well as the thoughtful, passionate staff who make it all happen. I’m overwhelmed by their dedication to their profession and to this University.

I have also been spending much of my time working closely with long-time colleague Ros Remer, who stepped into her role as the Senior Vice Provost for Drexel’s new Libraries, Collections & Archives unit at the same time. With Dr. Remer’s guidance, and support from Provost Jensen, we are exploring ways to  better align and coordinate the University’s unique collections and archives, which include everything from journals, books, and databases, to historic collections and archival material not found anywhere else.  

We are excited about the opportunities this new unit provides, and I look forward to working with Dr. Remer and the staff who manage these important information and cultural resources over the coming months.

While this is certainly a time of transition at the Libraries and across the University, we are continuing to do what we do best—providing access to resources and services that support learning, teaching and research. We have some exciting projects in the pipeline, including a new Libraries website coming in fall 2025, new exhibits that capture student engagement and reactions to Drexel’s collections, and the official integration of Salus at Drexel’s library and staff into our day-to-day operations, to name a few. We’re also looking forward to scheduling the annual Celebrating Drexel Authors event this fall—stay tuned for details.

We will continue to share information and updates about library resources and services and other challenges impacting the University and higher education in general on our website and through our quarterly newsletter, Boundless. Check back regularly for announcements or contact Libraries staff directly at libraries@drexel.edu with questions and suggestions.

Thank you again for your continued support of the Drexel Libraries. I look forward to all the exciting projects and collaborations on the horizon.

Dr. Pedro M. P. Raposo

Interim Head of University Libraries

Drexel University Libraries