Dean Chui-chun Lee (Library)
President Donald P. Christian announced on Oct. 21 that Dean Chui-chun Lee (Library), will retire after more than 40 years of service. Lee’s retirement reception is scheduled for Dec. 15 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Pre-Event Space outside the Multi-Purpose Room in the Student Union Building.
Lee held numerous positions in the Sojourner Truth Library since the beginning of her career in 1969, including Director of the Library from 1995 to 2008 and Dean of the Library since 2008. She received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence and Librarianship in 1989.
Over her career, Lee has witnessed rapid changes within the library profession.
Lee began her career at New Paltz as an assistant librarian and recalls typing cards on a typewriter for the card catalogue system.
“The changes have been tremendous over the years. Libraries are very affected by new technologies,” said Lee. “Now everything is increasingly electronic. Although most resources are online, the physical library is still important. It’s a significant space for students to learn, communicate and discover new information and knowledge.”
President Donald P. Christian commended her outstanding service:
“We thank Chui-chun for more than 4 decades of service to the Sojourner Truth Library and to SUNY New Paltz. Chui-Chun has witnessed and presided over a phenomenal amount of technological change in the way libraries function and serve the campus. But whether the library was offering a card catalog search system or today’s convenient databases that can be accessed from anywhere with Internet access, the constant at the library has been exceptional service to students, faculty and the greater New Paltz community. Chui-chun has helped guide and drive this quality experience and she has been a tremendous campus citizen and colleague.”
President Christian noted that most recently, Chui-chun has been a positive influence on planning a renovation project that will better poise the library for 21st century teaching and learning needs.
Lee earned a bachelor’s in English from The Chinese University of Hong Kong; a master’s in library science from Syracuse University; a master’s in English literature and a master’s in Asian studies from New York University; and a doctorate from SUNY Albany.