Brian Vivier serves as the head of Global Collections at Penn Libraries.
New Director of Zilberman Center for Global Collections Embraces Cross-Disciplinary Approach
Brian Vivier, the newly appointed inaugural director of the Zilberman Family Center for Global Collections at Penn Libraries, brings a unique blend of academic and professional experience to his role.
Prior to his current position, Brian studied pre-modern histories as an undergraduate at Indiana University and later as a graduate student at Yale, where he earned his doctorate. This scholarly background has equipped him with a broad understanding of various disciplines, which he now applies to his work at Penn Libraries.
Brian's appointment in 2022 marked a significant milestone for the Zilberman Center. Under his leadership, the center continues to grow and evolve, supporting scholarly work across various disciplines. The center houses a diverse collection of materials, including South Asian veterinary materials and the Indo-Caribbean collection, among others.
In his role as director, Brian views Penn Libraries as a connected whole, making cross-disciplinary and linguistic connections. He encourages people, including those from unrelated disciplines such as Veterinary Medicine, to inquire about the center's collections. This approach fosters a collaborative environment that encourages interdisciplinary research.
Brian's work focuses on histories that are often overlooked or considered on the margins. He asks librarians to consider how the work they are doing will make an impact on future generations of scholars. His threefold approach in recent months has been to bring the world to Penn to support scholarship, address information integrity, and envision the physical manifestation of the new Zilberman Center.
The Zilberman Center for Global Collections will be located on the fifth floor of Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. The center aims to support and facilitate scholarly work across various disciplines, including agricultural science, as demonstrated by Mengliu Cheng, a history doctoral student who received an award from the Association of Asian Studies for her dissertation in agricultural science that utilized materials from the Zilberman Center in 2024.
Brian believes in the work being built at the Zilberman Center for the future of Penn Libraries. He finds it enjoyable when someone from a different disciplinary angle inquires about the center's collections, as it underscores the center's importance in fostering interdisciplinary research.
Before becoming director, Brian began his career at Penn Libraries in 2011 as a library specialist of the Chinese collection. His work within Penn Libraries since 2011 has been focused on roles related to library management and global collections, though specific recent activities prior to this appointment are not detailed in the available sources.
In summary, Brian Vivier's appointment as the director of the Zilberman Family Center for Global Collections at Penn Libraries marks an exciting new chapter for the center. His interdisciplinary approach, focus on histories often overlooked, and commitment to fostering collaboration make him an ideal leader for this dynamic and diverse center.
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