Rebecca Bernthal, associate professor and subject specialist with University Libraries, will retire in June after 31 years of service at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
For many of those years, Bernthal worked at the C. Y. Thompson Library, including several years as its head librarian and director. More recently, she has been a member of the Discovery and Resources Management unit.
At one time or another, Bernthal served as liaison to nearly every department housed on East Campus. She began primarily as liaison to the College of Home Economics, which included the programs of consumer sciences and education, textiles clothing and design, nutrition sciences, and human development and family science. She currently acts as liaison for departments that include agricultural economics and special education and communication disorders.
In addition to collaborating on numerous research projects with faculty colleagues through University Libraries, Bernthal has served in many leadership roles. She was elected as vice chair of the Libraries Faculty and to multiple committees therein. She was also elected to the Senate Executive Committee, the Faculty Senate’s Academic Planning Committee and the Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee, for which she served as chair for one year. Bernthal volunteered to serve on the Chancellor’s Aesthetic Review Committee, as well.
Beyond the university, Bernthal made an impact via her service on local and national membership organizations and through her research. She has served as chair of the Nebraska Library Association’s College and University Section; the Nebraska chapter representative for the Association of College and Research Libraries; and chair of the ACRL Candidates Forum. Bernthal twice served on the board of the Southeast Library System and was made a member of Gamma Sigma Delta (agriculture honorary).
Universities Libraries has shared an online message board where faculty, staff and students can leave memories and well-wishes for Bernthal.
