Monday, July 16, 2018
Victoria Chu has been appointed to the position of Associate University Librarian, Learning, Research and User Services at the University of Waterloo Library, effective October 15, 2018. 
Victoria will provide leadership for the Library's user-focused information programs, policies, and spaces, including research consultations and services, instruction, user experience, accessibility, student engagement and outreach.
Victoria brings to this newly-shaped senior administrative role an impressive and deep combination of professional and academic qualifications. She is currently Director, Research Advisory Services Program at the University of California San Diego Library, where she has held both administrative and subject specialist appointments in Area Studies, International Relations, and Chinese Studies since 2005. Prior to that, Victoria held professional appointments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Library, and the University of Toronto East Asian Library. She holds a master's degree in Information Studies as well as advanced degrees in East Asian Studies from the University of Toronto, and bachelor's degrees in Political Science and History and Philosophy with highest honours from McMaster University.
University Librarian Beth Namachchivaya notes that, "Victoria's deep experience in leading user services and specialized research programs in several academic libraries brings critically important perspective to the Library as the University of Waterloo shapes its future in a highly innovative, research-intensive environment."
At the University of California San Diego Library, she has been instrumental in developing the Library's research advisory services as well as planning for programs and space for data science, GIS and digital scholarship. Through her significant change management expertise, she has facilitated lasting and positive change in Area Studies library programs and collections, including International Relations and Pacific Studies, and East Asian Studies.
Victoria's extensive professional and community service includes membership and leadership roles in the Council on East Asian Libraries (CEAL), the American Library Association (ALA), the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), the California Digital Library (CDL) Resource Liaison Program, and leadership of the University of California system-wide East Asian Bibliographers' Group. She has published and presented internationally at professional society meetings and conferences on the topics of scholarly communication and digital scholarship initiatives in East Asian studies, Chinese and East Asian collection development and licensing in the electronic environment, and library consolidations and closings.
