When Dale Glover started working at University Libraries in 2003, he didn’t expect to be here more than a few years. “I had made a promise to myself not to stay in any job for too long,” he says.
Almost 23 years later, upon his retirement from the Libraries as its longtime supply manager, he acknowledges, “I broke that promise.” He’s not upset with himself for that, though. “I stayed because of the people,” he says. “It’s a great community, and it has been 22 great years.”
A commitment to the Libraries community – along with an appreciation for the cumulative power of giving – also led Glover to donate to the Libraries every pay period since 2009, when a coworker noted that even small gifts add up over time and “every little bit helps.”
“Dale is a generous person who views giving as a way to make a difference." says Jennifer Campbell, the Libraries’ Director of Development. “His steady, faithful giving over the years is a reminder that kindness and commitment make a lasting impact. The Libraries have been deeply blessed not only by the work Dale did every day, but by the care, thoughtfulness, and belief in our mission that he showed through his continued support.”
Glover joined the Libraries in 2003 as a temporary hire whose first job was to help with the restoration of study carrels in Thomas Cooper. For six months, he sanded down and revarnished hundreds of them before returning them to their spots on all floors of the library. Then he became a shuttle driver, ferrying books between University Libraries and the other USC campuses around the state. “I drove 700 miles a week,” he recalls, “going to the lowcountry every Monday, Sumter on Tuesdays and the upstate on Wednesdays.” The rest of the week, he moved books around the USC Columbia campus and bagged up books for mailing out via interlibrary loan.
In 2006, Glover took on his current role, ordering and managing supplies, supervising shuttle drivers and continuing to provide facilities support. Over time, even as increasing use of digital materials meant fewer books were circulating among campuses, relocations within University Libraries continued to keep him and his team busy. “Our serials have moved three times since I’ve been here,” he notes. “And Interlibrary Loan has moved twice.” After Hollings Library opened in 2010, he and his crew were also responsible for setting up and breaking down its program room for events. He’s helped with some unusual moves too, including hauling a collection of Chinese news films from the Chinese embassy in Washington to USC’s Moving Image Research Collections in a 22-foot truck.
Glover’s impact on the Libraries goes far beyond the significant work he’s done to keep them running smoothly, says his manager, Assistant Dean and Director of Administration Becky Padgett. “Dale was the first person that I met when I moved from Division of Human Resources to University Libraries,” Padgett recalls. “His positivity and willingness to help others have made a lasting impact on everyone who has had the pleasure of working with him. Dale is the epitome of what the ‘family’ of University Libraries means.”