Pat Bril (center) is joined by University Librarian Richard Pollard and President Milton A. Gordon at a reception that was recently held at the library in her honor.

Librarian Pat Bril Honored for 35 Years of Service

She has coordinated the library collection development efforts through many changes and into the electronic age

April 17, 2007

 

Pat Bril, a librarian at Cal State Fullerton, thought she was on her way to a meeting. Little did she know that about 45 of her colleagues, as well as President Milton A. Gordon and University Librarian Richard Pollard, were waiting to honor her for her 35 years of service at the university.

After being presented with a watch by President Gordon, Bril quipped, “Well, with this new watch, I won’t be late for any meetings.”

Bril has held many positions at the library during her 35 years of service.  She began as a reference librarian, served as head of reference services, became department chair in 1982, and served as collection development officer from 1985-1998. During this time, she coordinated library collection development efforts through budget crises and into the electronic age. She was associate university librarian for 11 years, in charge of the management of the library’s budget and personnel operations, and was the “point person” in the library during the addition of the north wing.  In fact, the Office of Design and Construction issued her a pink hard hat in appreciation for her efforts.

President Milton A. Gordon presents Pat Bril with a watch in recognition of her 35 years of service.

In 2001, Bril returned to her library faculty position in library collection development to become the electronic collections librarian.  She also was elected to the Academic Senate and served on several of its committees.

Among Bril’s many contributions to the profession are serving as president of both the Orange County Library Association and the California Academic and Research Librarians Association. She has also been active in the American Library Association and was elected Chair of ALA’s Collection Management and Development Section.

Bril has served for nine years on the Huntington Beach Library Board of Trustees, including one year as chair of the board.  During a sabbatical year, she completed an invited, comprehensive organization and staffing study for the Cambridge University Libraries emphasizing meeting fiscal challenges to incorporate new technologies.  

“It has been wonderful working with so many great people for the past 35 years,” she said.