Ann Wolpert

Ann J. Wolpert
Born
Ann Josephine Wolpert

October 1, 1943
DiedOctober 2, 2013 (aged 70)
EducationMLS
Alma materSimmons College, Boston
OccupationLibrarian
EmployerMassachusetts Institute of Technology
Known forDSpace
TitleDirector of libraries

Ann Josephine Wolpert (October 1, 1943 – October 2, 2013) was an American librarian who was a pioneer in digital libraries. As director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries from 1996 to 2013, she was instrumental in a variety of projects, including leading an initiative between MIT and Hewlett Packard to develop the DSpace digital repository system, and supporting MIT OpenCourseWare, one of the earliest large-scale projects to provide open access to university course materials. She also championed MIT's adoption of an open access mandate in 2009, the first of its kind in the United States.

She advised and contributed to many core library organizations as well as initiatives that sought to transform the way research institutions and their libraries collaborate to solve large problems.[1] Over her career, she served on the boards of directors of the Boston Library Consortium, the National Academies’ Board of Research Data and Information (BRDI), DuraSpace, and the Digital Preservation Network (DPN); on the steering committee of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI);[2] as the council chair of the International Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR);[3] and served in significant advisory roles in many other organizations.[4]

  1. ^ Nate Nickerson (October 2, 2013). "Ann Wolpert, director of libraries, has died at 70". MIT News.
  2. ^ "In Memory of Ann Wolpert". American Research Libraries. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  3. ^ "ICPSR Saddened by Passing of Former Council Chair Ann Wolpert". ICPSR. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  4. ^ Who's Who in America 2014. Marquis Who's Who. 2014. ISBN 978-0-8379-7043-1. Archived from the original on 2013-10-25. Retrieved 2013-10-23.