After more than 30 years in academic library leadership, Gale Etschmaier will retire in June as dean of University Libraries at Florida State University. Since arriving in 2018, she has helped shape the Libraries into vibrant, modern spaces that serve the entire FSU community.
Etschmaier brought experience from several universities but said FSU stood out for its connection to the community and its impact on students. She sees the library as “a center of intellectual community where students feel they belong.”
“The more I learned about Florida State University, the more I realized it is that kind of institution — it is absolutely anchored in the community,” she said. “It’s the kind of university that changes lives and improves the economics of the local region, the state and the country, and I am so happy that I came to Florida State. It has been such an incredible experience.”
Etschmaier expanded community service and impact at FSU by listening to students and faculty and leading innovations in service, technology and engagement. Her vision called for revitalizing physical spaces where she oversaw a makeover of the second floor of Strozier Library, which became a top space for students to study and collaborate. She also modernized the Libraries A/V technology with a new projector system, screens and cameras. She enhanced the Robert B. Bradley Reading Room for presentations and lectures.
“Our Libraries are incredibly important to the university, and Dean Etschmaier has done an exceptional job in transforming them into centers of innovation and community engagement. We are sad to see her retire, but we are immensely grateful for her contributions and congratulate her on her upcoming and well-deserved retirement.”
— FSU President Richard McCullough
“Our Libraries are incredibly important to the university, and Dean Etschmaier has done an exceptional job in transforming them into centers of innovation and community engagement,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “We are sad to see her retire, but we are immensely grateful for her contributions and congratulate her on her upcoming and well-deserved retirement.”
Etschmaier is recognized for her student-centered initiatives such as “Art in the Library,” which displays artwork by students and faculty, and pop-up concerts. These efforts enhance the library experience for visitors, elevate the visibility of the arts at FSU, and provide invaluable professional development opportunities for the student body.
She worked with faculty and librarians to cancel the Elsevier subscription package, saving FSU Libraries $1 million annually. This allowed resources to be redirected toward essential collections. Her advocacy resulted in the first budget increase for library collections in over 15 years.
In 2020, when the pandemic shuttered the campus, FSU Libraries emphasized the transition to online services by expanding their digital collections — including e-books, journals and databases — and introduced curbside pickup for physical items. Collaborations with publishers facilitated access to millions of digital resources.
Etschmaier played a crucial role in addressing these challenges and developing innovative solutions that have established a lasting impact for future generations.
On Christmas Day 2022, her leadership was evident when an air handler coil froze, flooding the library’s subbasement with 2 inches of water and threatening rare archival materials. She promptly organized a team to rescue and relocate the items to secure storage and initiated renovations to protect the area.
As part of the 2024 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaccreditation process, Florida State University Libraries contributed to the formulation of the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan. The resulting initiative, aimed at advancing doctoral education, includes a Graduate Skills Workshop Series designed to enhance graduate research and success. These workshops cover a range of topics, from AI-powered literature review tools to data analysis and management, fostering stronger connections with academic departments. These efforts equip students, faculty and staff with essential skills for the digital age.
“She’s done a wonderful job,” said FSU Provost Jim Clark. “She’s endured a global pandemic, catastrophic flooding in the basement of the library and a full-scale renovation. She’s had an adventurous deanship and has done it with a great deal of grace, kindness and class.”
In addition to her work at FSU Libraries, Etschmaier has been a leader in state and national associations. During her seven years at FSU, she served as chair of the Florida Virtual Campus Members Council on Library Services, chair of the Council of State University Libraries, a policy board member for the Northwest Regional Data Center and president of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries. As Etschmaier prepares to retire, the growth and achievement she leaves behind at FSU Libraries will continue to thrive.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to serve Florida State University and the Libraries,” Etschmaier said. “The teams I have worked with in the Libraries and the university are the strongest groups I have ever worked with. I would like to especially thank the FSU Libraries teams, the president, provost and vice presidents and our fabulous Library and Heritage Museum Board members for your support of the libraries and of me. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the Dean of University Libraries and a part of me will always be here.”