The Beginning and End of Every Book: A Farewell to Debbie Hathaway

Head of Acquisitions and Technical Services reflects on nearly 20 years of building the University of Dallas library collection

By Emily Fordan, BA ’26

Debbie Hathaway has seen almost every book in the University of Dallas library. For 20 years, as Head of Acquisitions and Technical Services, she has been the beginning and end of every single item on those shelves. Now, as she prepares to retire, she sat down with us to share the story behind the stacks.

How long have you worked at the University of Dallas and why did you choose to work here? What made you stay? 

I came to UD in 2006 because I followed my son, who was a seminarian at Holy Trinity (he’s a priest now!). He came in as a freshman, and there was a job opening in the library.

I had never had any prior library acquisitions experience. I had some public library experience in collection development and was on a Board of Trustees for a library board in South Dakota. I was trained as a data analyst: analyzing budgets, drilling down expenditures and learning how to build a collection, as well as comparing and analyzing (all things I enjoy). 

I loved the UDallas library, and it spoke to me as a mom of a Catholic family. Everybody was so warm and welcoming. The mission of the University is so unique, and this kind of service called to me. What I’m doing in building up the collection and being the acquisitions librarian is helping faculty and students and future researchers–finding the resources that they need to thrive. 

What was your favorite aspect of your work? 

My passion is collection development, only part of what an acquisitions librarian does. The acquisitions librarian orders and pays for the books. But the collection department decides what needs to be purchased and how to build the collection. I’ve been here so long that I can look at titles and remember ordering them. This kind of detailed knowledge helps me determine which subject areas need to be developed more or decide if there’s a new program with needed resources.

What’s your biggest accomplishment?

Probably getting two major grants for the library. The first one established the Core Collection and the second one added to the Core Collection by incorporating Hispanic Serving Institute titles, which added depth of coverage to our existing Hispanic literature, history, and philosophy sections. When you hear reports back of how meaningful it is for students to have access to books that they don’t have to purchase, it’s so rewarding. 

I helped write both of those grants. The grants came from the Texas State Library Archive and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grants I wrote were for the Core Collection, the core books that every student at UD is required to read. I had to research what books that you have to read, and I took into consideration the usage of what we already had to justify and explain how many copies we need for each subject. Analyzing, ordering, paying and tracking expenditures, so many different reports are involved to get a grant. 

How would you describe the academic and work culture at the University of Dallas? 

The work culture is great. I love working with all the faculty, and getting to know them. I have been selected to be on the Faculty Senate and I’m serving my fourth term as the secretary in the University Council. So I’m in the heart of the administration. I’m right in there and getting to know what is going on and how can I help, and how the library can help, and that’s my focus of any service: How can I help the University and the library? 

UD is unique at its core. It is very rigorous, and it’s amazing to see all the students digging in the texts and enjoying it. What other university can walk down the Mall and they’re not talking about what party they’re going to, they’re saying, “oh did you read that paragraph in Plato’s Republic? What did you think of that?” It’s totally amazing.

Describe a day in your life. 

I order books, receive books, research titles and research databases that might be useful. I might be renegotiating contracts for databases to get the most favorable terms. It’s varied, no one day is the same other than that books come in. Acquisitions is the beginning and end of every single item in this library. You begin by researching and ordering the books. And then once they’ve reached their lifespan (falling apart, no longer in a usable condition) then they come back and I have to make the decision whether to buy another copy, perhaps purchasing a new and better edition.

What are your plans after retirement? 

I’m very much a go-getter, so I’m going to miss UD and this job, that’s for sure. We are going to be leaving for a three-month roadtrip from here up through the Yukon into Alaska and then back. That’s how I’m going to de-stress myself and become a retiree. 

Share a distinctive memory or student/faculty interaction. 

I like to get to know the student-workers. There was one student worker that I have kept in contact with all these years, Amanda Miller; she is married now with three children. She was a psychology major and would come in and bring the mail and we would  have the best conversations.

In the last few years, it was a pleasure to work with Dean Scrogham. He’s the fourth dean I’ve been with, and by far the best one the library has had. I love collaborating with him. I’m going to miss his conversations and guidance. He leads by example. He is a true leader who leads, not manages. 

What is a valuable lesson you learned or advice you would give to current students trying to navigate the world based on your years of professional experience working at the University of Dallas?

Never stop learning. There is something to learn at all stages of your life, everywhere, and you can find it in a book. There is always something that should spark in your mind. You should always have that curiosity and a sense of fun and imagination and love of learning. 

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