“I wasn’t actively looking for a new position last summer,” said Sam Putnam, the new director of Bern Dibner Library at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. “I was mainly trying to navigate my new life with my wife, Megan, and our two young children while we sheltered in place.” Sam was the Engineering Librarian/Associate University Librarian at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, and when he heard from the NYU Libraries search committee, he decided to apply.
“But during my interviews and presentations,” Sam continued, “everyone seemed excited about my vision for a 21st-century STEM library, and the more I talked with the search committee and the folks at Dibner and their Tandon colleagues about the potential for this position, the more excited I got, too. Ultimately, the people at NYU are the reason I accepted.”
Sam has an MLIS and certification in library leadership from Florida State University and a BA in History from UF. As Engineering Librarian at UF, he directed Made@UF, which he describes as “an extended-reality development space” for investigating and integrating emerging technologies.
“Made@UF was primarily focused on virtual and augmented reality because it was a fit for the campus,” Sam said. “We had a very active student club, GatorVR, that met in the library as well as great faculty partners across campus who were interested in the teaching applications of VR.”
When asked if he foresaw establishing something similar at Dibner, Sam replied, “I'm not sure if that is replicable at Dibner, but Made@UF was never about VR. It was about making a space for students to explore new modes and media, engage in peer-to-peer learning, and create experiences from their imaginations. Students are developing their expertise and discovering their voice in a new environment, and that’s very evident at Tandon. I believe Dibner can foster and promote that growth.”
Sam joined NYU on May 10, working remotely from Florida. “It has been a little strange meeting all of my new colleagues and collaborators on Zoom,” he said. “But I had a chance to visit New York for a week and that allowed me to get a feel for the campus and meet some colleagues. I was thrilled to spend time with folks in person and share some meals in the park with them. I love the campus-in-the-city vibe, which is different from my previous experience on a large campus in a small town.”
Sam is originally from Oakland Park, FL near Fort Lauderdale and moved to Gainesville for college. “I loved my time growing up in Florida,” he said. “Florida has a lot to offer beyond Disney and beaches—although I will miss the Florida beaches.”
Three months ago, Sam’s family expanded; his son, 6, and daughter, 3, have a new baby sister. They’re looking for a place in Brooklyn near Prospect Park. Tips and leads are welcome!
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