Linda Sellars retires

Linda Sellars, Head of Technical Services for the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), has retired after over 15 years at the Libraries. She started at the Libraries in September 2005 coming from the Southern Historical Collection at UNC-Chapel Hill. And she found a new home here right away.

“I loved the wonderful collections at UNC and my colleagues there,” Linda says, “but I hoped that in NC State's newer special collections, I would have the opportunity to help shape a Special Collections Research Center that would provide access to unique collections that document historical and contemporary aspects of fields of study that are strengths for NC State University. Being part of that work is what kept me in the Libraries for the remainder of my career.”

Linda provided extraordinary support and expertise in the department’s work. Arriving at the Libraries from UNC-Chapel Hill, she worked through a large processing backlog with aplomb. She has also left an indelible mark on the field as a kind and knowledgeable mentor.

“For me, one of her most important legacies is the countless number of young professionals that she mentored throughout the years,” says Gwynn Thayer, SCRC Interim Department Head. “All across the country, there are library and archives professionals who can say that they learned so much from Linda Sellars.”

Thayer spoke at a Staff Appreciation meeting earlier this summer to acknowledge Linda reaching the 15-year mark at the Libraries. Some of the bullet points on the slide acknowledging Linda’s accomplishments conveyed the fact that she has been an indispensable presence that has held the department together through her organizational knowledge. Two bullet points read: “Linda knows where everything in SCRC is, why it’s there, and how to describe it... Linda probably even knows why something is where it should not be, and why, and how to fix it.”

Carolyn Argentati, Deputy Director of Libraries, recalls that Linda designed workflows and managed and performed a great deal of work on the technical processing and description of the Libraries’ growing special collections materials over the years, training and supervising a frequently changing workforce of graduate student assistants as well as Fellows and other librarians and support staff. 

“Whenever I've spoken with employees who worked with and for Linda, they've always emphasized how much they learned from her and enjoyed the experience,” says Argentati. “It's clear that she helped them discover some joy and fascination both with the unique content itself and the essential process of describing it and making it available for students and researchers into the future.”

“I'm most proud of two accomplishments,” Linda says. “We have made our collections easily discoverable and accessible and we have provided practical work experience for public history and library science students, giving them useful training and mentoring that sent them out into the library world ready to contribute.”

Former student employees currently work in special collections in academic libraries (including one director of a health sciences library and health sciences special collections), one works as an archivist at the National Archives and Records Administration, and one as a director at a community college library. Others work in a local history collection in a public library, one is the assistant director of NC LIVE, and some are metadata and digital collections librarians. It’s quite a legacy.

One’s legacy, of course, is more than a list of accomplishments. Asked about what she personally brought to the job, Linda says: “The first things I thought of were my contributions to The New York Times crossword solving at lunchtime, willingness to talk books any time with anybody, and regular attendance at departmental happy hours.” 

Linda describes her future plans as “the very cliche of retirement.” She and her daughter have already taken a celebratory trip to Miami and the Florida Keys, and she’s looking forward to doting on her grandsons. Linda has also been enjoying walking and swimming outdoors, reading, starting on a volunteer project, and spending time with friends and family.

“For me, I will miss having her around for so many reasons—she was thoughtful, well-read, and kind,” Thayer says. “She was always interested in engaging in conversations on a broad array of topics, both library-related and beyond. I know all of us plan on keeping in touch with Linda since she was such a wonderful colleague.”

“Definitely, I will miss my wonderful colleagues,” Linda says. “During the years I was working in Special Collections, we built a strong team. I'll miss working as part of that team and I already miss each and every one of those team members.”