WSU Spokane Selects New Library Director

Jonathan Potter is the new director of the library at WSU Spokane, replacing Bob Pringle who retired on July 1 after 35 years at WSU.

Potter was located in the WSU Spokane library but worked for Eastern Washington University, which shares the campus and library, and was appointed interim director after Pringle left.

Potter has master’s degrees in librarianship and in English with emphasis on American literature, both from the University of Washington. He is enrolled in Gonzaga University’s doctoral program in leadership studies and is pursuing research interests ranging from health science bibliometrics to media ecology to servant-leadership theory.

His experience includes managing a branch of the Sno-Isle Regional Library System in the north Puget Sound area and working as the distance services librarian for Gonzaga and the faculty librarian at EWU in Cheney before transferring to the Spokane campus.

Potter is a published poet and has participated in literary activities on the Spokane campus, including contributing to the Get Lit! literary festival and organizing the “Naked Lunch Break” reading series from 2012-14.

He is a member of the Medical Library Association and past chair of its Nursing and Allied Health Resources Section and a member of the Association of College and Research Libraries in Washington.

—Story by Lorraine Nelson, WSU Health Sciences Spokane communications