By Abigail Jones
Metadata Specialist Nina Benson
Nina Benson, metadata specialist in the West Virginia University Libraries Knowledge Access and Resource Management (KARM) department, retired June 30, 2025, after more than 40 years of service.
Nina Benson, Metadata Specialist, Knowledge Access and Resource Management (KARM).
Benson started her career with WVU Libraries typing book cards and processing books as a library clerk in 1985. She held numerous roles throughout her career, proofing and filing catalog cards, entering digital records, and cataloging old book collections. For 22 years of her tenure, she worked in the periodicals department, checking issues in, claiming missing issues, and processing binders. In 2016, Benson became part of the newly formed KARM department and returned to her first love — cataloging.
“I always joked with Nina about going into an engineering career because of her genius methods for keeping the maps from rolling out of the book carts, which is just one example of her quiet brilliance,” said WVU Libraries’ Head of Metadata Services Emily Fidelman. “We miss her desperately.”
Through several digital system transitions, Benson set up records and check-in systems, as well as managed large-scale moves to the Libraries Depository, which often took several years at a time. Throughout her service, Benson assisted in integration of the Forestry Library into the Evansdale Library, helped the WVU Potomac State College Mary F. Shipper Library and WVU Institute of Technology Library with cataloging their collections, supported projects at the Libraries Depository, and played a major role in completing barcoding for periodicals in the Evansdale and Downtown Libraries.
Resource Sharing Specialist Judi McCracken
Judi McCracken, resource sharing specialist in WVU Libraries’ Access Services and Resource Sharing department, retired June 30, 2025, after 36 years of service.
Judi McCracken, Resource Sharing Specialist, Access Services and Resource Sharing.
McCracken began her career at WVU Libraries in a reference position, when Libraries used the card catalog, searched through the stacks with a dumbwaiter, and notified library users by telephone or postcard when their materials were ready to be picked up.
While her position evolved and transformed, McCracken brought the same passion and dedication to WVU Libraries through it all.
Her impact can be seen as accolades given to the department previously known as Interlibrary Loan for providing significant research support for researchers, as well as policies created by the interlibrary loan committee she served on. Those policies include fines for late materials and limitations on the number of items requested per semester, which led to better working relations with other libraries and cost savings.
“Judi has been a foundation for Interlibrary Loan services at WVU Libraries for decades. When I was a student interlibrary loan worker in 2000, Judi taught me many things about the trade,” said WVU Libraries Resource Sharing Manager Kyla Lucas. “Thus, my interest in resource sharing deepened throughout my years working with her. By serving our community in multiple aspects, she has been a hard-working delight. Her skills in the art of fulfilling requests for patrons are extensive and invaluable. WVU Libraries has positively benefited from her knowledge and her dedication, and she is greatly missed.”
Over her career, she dedicated herself to numerous University committees, including Staff Council.
"The best accomplishments I can name are the friendships I have developed, and the relationsihps formed with others through the years at WVU. I have cherisehed memories of my career at WVU Libraries, and I hope I have created pleasant memories for others," said McCracken.
Lead Administrator of WVU Institute of Technology Library Mary Strife
Mary Strife, lead administrator of the WVU Institute of Technology Library, retired June 30, 2025, after almost 30 years of service.
Mary Strife, Lead Administrator, WVU Institute of Technology Library.
Whether working for NASA or at academic universities or technology centers, Strife was a librarian. From New York to Connecticut to West Virginia, she held numerous librarian positions, providing reference and information services in the technology, engineering, and science spaces. She settled in Morgantown and began her time at WVU Libraries in 1995 as head coordinator of the then-called Physical Sciences and Mathematics Libraries.
During her career at WVU Libraries, Strife held several leadership positions. Under her direction, the Libraries successfully underwent 2 renovations at the Evansdale Library, developed designated spaces for physics, chemistry, geology, and biology journals, and transitioned and moved the entirety of the Technology Library to Beckley, West Virginia. She co-designed an in-person, out-of-class experience for Engineering 101 students, reaching 20 course sections a semester. Strife also led the charge for offering online ULIB 101 sections for WVU Tech students and taught ULIB courses.
Strife had a talent for publishing and presenting at conferences. Through the Engineering Library Division of the American Society for Engineering Education, she participated in many panels and presentations and served on numerous committees. Strife also published extensively.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working for, and with, Mary since 2001. Slowly but surely over the years, Mary transformed Evansdale Library from the décor of the 1970s to a clean, modern, and spacious environment for the 21st century,” said WVU Libraries’ Collections Strategist Librarian Beth Royall. “Whenever Mary championed changes, you knew they were for the benefit of students, whether that was the collection, furniture, library hours, technology, or service locations. Students have been at the heart of all Mary’s work.”
Strife retired from WVU as university librarian emerita.