Columbia Law School has announced the appointment of Simon Canick as director of the Arthur W. Diamond Law Library at Columbia Law School, effective January 2021.

Canick began his professional career as a reference librarian in the Columbia law library over two decades ago. In the years since, he has led academic libraries and information technology teams at both public and private law schools—most recently serving as associate dean and director of the Thurgood Marshall Law Library, information technology services, and media services at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law since 2016.

“Throughout the search process, Simon impressed the committee with his vision, commitment to exceptional service delivery, strategic planning experience, and management of large teams of librarians and professional staff,” said Gillian Lester, Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law, in an email to faculty and staff. “The excellence of our Law Library is vital to the success of our research and teaching mission and I am confident that the Diamond Law Library will thrive under Simon’s innovative leadership.”

Simon has served as the president of the Law Library Association of Maryland, has been a member of multiple ABA sabbatical review site committees, and has taught and published in the areas of legal research and hybrid and online education. Simon earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a Master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Washington.