Donna Jones Morris has been appointed Utah’s State Librarian and director of the State Library Division, effective January 30. Gerald Buttars has been serving as acting director following the retirement of Amy Owen last August. The announcement follows a nationwide search.

Morris is currently the executive director of the Arkansas Valley Regional Library Service System in Pueblo, Colorado, a position she has held since 1985. She also served as director of the Pioneer Memorial Library in Colby, Kansas and has worked as a librarian at Colby Community College. Morris is an experienced instructor and library consultant. She has worked with librarians in states including Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming.

“Donna brings a wealth of library experience to Utah,” says David G. Harmer, executive director of the Utah Department of Community and Economic Development. “Libraries play a vital role in enhancing our quality of life and she will do a great job of working to expand library service in Utah.”

“I plan to build partnerships to help all of the libraries in the state provide the best possible service within our economic constraints,” says Morris. “Libraries are about people and I am looking forward to becoming a part of the community in Utah.”

“I’m excited to be coming to Utah and joining such an excellent, well-qualified staff at the department and in state government,” adds Morris.

Morris received a Master of Librarianship degree from Emporia State University and a Bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University in Kansas. In 2003, she received the Colorado Association of Libraries Exemplary Service Award for providing leadership as the first president for her efforts to combine two associations into one group. She was named the Colorado Librarian of the Year in 1992. Morris has received numerous awards from the Colorado Library Association, including the Project of the Year Award in 2001 and the Career Achievement Award in 1998. In 2000, she was listed on the American Library Association’s Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) National Advocacy Honor Roll.

She and her husband currently reside in Pueblo, Colorado and are looking forward to making Utah their home.

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