UW Libraries Welcomes Julie Tanaka, Associate Dean for Distinctive Collections

March 28, 2024

Julie Tanaka

UW Libraries is pleased to announce that Julie Tanaka will be joining the UW Libraries as the new Associate Dean for Distinctive Collections, effective April 1, 2024. In this role, she will be responsible for administration of the Distinctive Collections (DC) portfolio, a team of more than twenty staff consisting of the Special Collections department and the International Studies units. These units include collections and services for book arts and rare books, Pacific Northwest history, historical visual and audiovisual materials, the institutional archives of the University of Washington, the Labor Archives of Washington, UW Ethnomusicology Archives as well as international collections and librarians supporting Near East, Slavic and Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia studies.

“I am delighted that Julie is joining the UW Libraries,” says Simon Neame, Dean of University Libraries. “Julie’s experience as both a faculty member and librarian gives her deep insight into the research process, and her background working both distinctive and global collections will be a true asset to the UW Libraries as we imagine the future of Distinctive Collections.”

Julie has over 20 years experience in academia and the field of librarianship, most recently as the Director of Special Collections and College Archives for Occidental College in Los Angeles, California.

Julie’s academic credentials include a BA in Humanities from San Jose State University, MA in Classics from UC Irvine, PhD in History from UC Berkeley, and a MLIS from the University of Washington.  During her time at UW, Julie worked as a student employee for the Libraries’ Graduate Funding Information Service in the Research Commons.

“I am excited to return to the place where I began my path in academic librarianship, said Tanaka. “I look forward to working with the entire staff in Special Collections and International Studies, supporting their work, advocating for them and leading Distinctive Collections to undertake important work that supports student success, faculty research, and community programming and access to UW’s collections.”

UW Libraries’ Distinctive Collections brings together the Special Collections and International Studies units. With more than 8,000 archival collections and nearly 245,000 print volumes, Special Collections brings together the University of Washington Libraries' most rare and unique resources. Drawing users from the campus, the community, the region and the state, Special Collections also serves scholars from across the country and around the world. Students, faculty, and visitors are invited to examine manuscripts, printed works, artists' books, photographs, maps, and other materials on site, and an extensive digital collection available online.

About UW Libraries

The University of Washington Libraries is a network of academic research libraries serving three campuses: Seattle, UW Bothell, and UW Tacoma. Ranked in the top ten of US public research universities, the Libraries is home to the largest collection in the Pacific Northwest and is recognized for its excellent service, innovative programs and award-winning staff. https://www.lib.washington.edu/about

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