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After 57 years of dedication and leadership, Yolande Wersching, PhD, head of Lewis Library, will retire on January 3, 2025, leaving an indelible mark on the Loyola community.
Wersching’s journey at Loyola began in 1967 as a student working in the periodicals department, where she checked out volumes to students from the department’s closed stack selection. She eventually moved to the circulation desk following the Library’s move to a new space in 1968. Over the years, she served as interlibrary loan librarian and reference librarian before becoming Head of Lewis Library in 1998. In 1994, Wersching moved with the library from the 9th floor of Lewis Towers to its present-day location in the Corboy Law Center.
While working in the libraries, Wersching continued to pursue her own education. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Mount Carmel College, India, and a Master’s in English Literature from Central College, India, she earned her Master’s of Legal Studies from Dominican University in 1971 and her PhD from Loyola’s School of Education in 1985.
Yolande has been the long memory of the Libraries, and her contributions are too numerous to mention.
— Marianne Ryan, dean of the University Libraries
Wersching has been involved in many of the Libraries’ departments throughout her years at Loyola. She has served bibliographer/liaison to the School of Social Work, the Quinlan School of Business, the School of Education, and currently works with the Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS). During her tenure, she represented University Libraries on numerous University committees, including the Council on Master’s Programs and the Council on Graduate School Education. Wersching participated on the initial committee that developed the Library’s Rank and Promotion Guidelines, and was the only staff member to immediately be awarded full senior librarian rank when faculty status went into effect.
Her tireless work for the Libraries and Loyola’s colleges, schools, and institutes has not gone unnoticed; in 2022, she was awarded the fifth Aggiornamento Award by the Institute of Pastoral Studies for service that reflects the mission, vision, and values of the University and IPS.
In her five-decade career at Loyola, Wersching has served under six different University presidents and eight library deans, using her understanding of the libraries to support student, faculty, and staff success. “Yolande has been the long memory of the Libraries, and her contributions too numerous to mention,” said Marianne Ryan, dean of University Libraries. “Things will not be the same without her, but I know we’re grateful for all she’s done and wish her the very best as she brings her truly extraordinary career to a conclusion.”
Read more of Yolande Wersching’s reflections on her years at Loyola in a Q&A with the Libraries.
