Nancy L. Eaton has retired as dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications at Penn State.

Named dean of University Libraries at Penn State in 1997, Eaton led the University Libraries through a period of unprecedented change, including the construction of the Paterno Library and renovation of the Pattee Library, utilization of information technology for delivery of new services and digital content throughout the 37 libraries at the 24 campuses of the University, and integration of the 37 libraries of Penn State into a unified library system. In 2005, she became the chief academic officer for the Penn State University Press, and her title was changed to emphasize leadership in developing new models of scholarly communications and publishing.

Prior to coming to Penn State, Eaton was dean of Library Services, Iowa State University (1989-1997); director of Libraries and Media Services, University of Vermont (1982-1989); Technical Services Administrator, Atlanta Public Library (1976-1982); Automation Librarian, State University of New York at Stony Brook (1974-1976); and she held various positions at the University of Texas at Austin (1968-1974). Eaton received her A.B. from Stanford University (1965) and her M.L.S. from the University of Texas at Austin (1968).

Eaton's leadership has been far-reaching and noteworthy. She helped to craft the agreement between Google and the CIC (Committee on Institutional Cooperation) libraries for the digitization of 10 million volumes. She is currently a member of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, has served on the boards of OCLC and the Research Libraries Group, and has a number of publications and presentations. Eaton was the principal investigator for the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant to support an extensive study of digital image delivery and repository systems, ending in 2003. Most recently she was co-principal investigator for the development of DPubS, open-source electronic publishing software, involving Penn State and Cornell University Libraries.

Eaton will be an ARL (Association for Research Libraries) Visiting Program Officer from Oct. 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011. Her proposal to ARL was titled "Exploring the Economics of New Modes of Scholarly Communication." According the Eaton, "One of the greatest challenges to scholarly communications is the rising costs charged by commercial publishers. Libraries and university presses are actively engaged in creating more sustainable models. My role in developing new modes of scholarly communications in our Libraries will assist me in this ARL project."

Eaton will remain in State College and continue her ties to the University as dean emeritus.