IALS announces appointment of Marilyn Clarke as its new librarian

Friday 10 June 2022

The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Marilyn Clarke as the new IALS Librarian. Ms Clarke is currently the Director of Library Services at Goldsmiths, University of London, having previously served as Head of Discovery Services and Acting Director since 2016. She began her career in librarianship at Senate House Library as a Cataloguer, before moving to Imperial College London. She is a graduate of London South Bank University and Birkbeck, University of London.

Ms Clarke brings a wide ranging and extensive background in senior library strategic leadership, including capital projects and the management of teams and budgets. She has also been instrumental on the Liberate our Library initiative at Goldsmiths. This project is intended to decolonise and diversify the collections and professional practices through the practice of critical librarianship, a field in which Ms Clarke is a recognised expert with numerous publications and presentations. Her focus is on delivering an inclusive service to all library users, leading on decolonisation initiatives, and highlighting issues around diversity, racial inequality, and the lack of Black and Persons of Colour representation in HE, particularly at senior level.

Ms Clarke expressed her enthusiasm about joining the Institute: “I am deeply honoured to take up the role of IALS Librarian. I very much look forward to working with Professor Carl Stychin and the exemplary IALS team to continue to build on their excellent library services across a broad range of stakeholders.  I am also committed to contributing to strategic work at IALS and the School of Advanced Study in the area of equity, diversity, and belonging. I am a lifelong learner and will enjoy the opportunity to lead a prestigious law library.”

The Director of the Institute, Professor Carl Stychin, said: ‘I welcome the appointment of Marilyn Clarke as our new Librarian at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. She brings a wealth of experience and she is an important voice in librarianship today. Her work on decolonisation resonates with the strategic plan of the School of Advanced Study and with our commitments at IALS. I have no doubt that her unwavering commitment to the experience of users of library services will allow her to build creatively on the outstanding track record of the Institute. Marilyn will be an excellent addition to an illustrious list of past librarians at IALS’.