David Sean Ferriero (;David Ferriero's name is pronounced FARE-E-O, according to "Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing on Archivist of the U.S. Nomination," National Humanities Alliance, 2009. born December 31, 1945) is an American librarian and library administrator, who served as the tenth Archivist of the United States. He previously served as the director of the New York Public LibraryOder, Norman. "NYPL Reorganization Coming," Library Journal (October 1, 2007). Vol. 132, Issue 16, p. 12; and as the University Librarian and Vice Provost for Library Affairs at Duke University."David S. Ferriero Named Andrew W. Mellon Director and Chief Executive of The Research Libraries at The New York Public Library" (press release). April 26, 2004. Prior to his Duke position, he worked for 31 years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology library.Kamen, Al. "A New U.S. Archivist: David Ferriero," Washington Post. July 28, 2009. Ferriero was the first librarian to serve as Archivist of the United States.
Early life and education Ferriero was born and raised in Beverly, Massachusetts, and graduated from Beverly High School. He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in English literature from Northeastern University.Nyul, Renata. "U.S. Senate confirms alumnus as U.S. Archivist" , Northeastern University Office of Marketing and Communications. November 6, 2009.
Ferriero's education was interrupted by service in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He served as a Navy hospital corpsman assigned to a Marine unit in Danang, Vietnam, and on a hospital ship, the USS Sanctuary, in Vietnamese waters.Donner, Nancy and Caroline Oyama. "David S. Ferriero Named Andrew W. Mellon Director and Chief Executive of The Research Libraries at The New York Public Library, NYPL Press Relations. April 26, 2004.
Following his military service, he earned a Master of Science degree in library and information science from Simmons College."Duke's Ferriero to head NYPL Research Libraries," Library Journal (May 15, 2004). Vol. 129, Issue 9, p. 13.
Career
MIT Libraries Ferriero worked at MIT Libraries for 31 years, including as associate director of public services.Ferriero resignation , MIT Libraries Annual Report 1997-1997.Northeastern University Alumni Affairs web site
Duke University Library Ferriero was the Rita DiGiallonardo Holloway University Librarian and vice provost for library affairs at Duke University from 1996 through 2004."Duke Librarian David Ferriero to Join New York Public Library: Robert Byrd, director of the Rare Book, Manuscript and Special Collections Library, will serve as Duke's acting university librarian after Ferriero's departure." Duke press release (2004). Ferriero was the first Duke University librarian to address the members of the university's board of trustees in person."University Librarian Addresses Board of Trustees," Duke University Libraries, 17:2. He was actively involved in the evolution of North Carolina's Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN).Oder, Norman. "Consortia Hit Critical Mass," Library Journal (February 1, 2000). Vol. 125, No. 2, p. 48.
New York Public Library Ferriero was the Andrew W. Mellon Director and Chief Executive of the Research Libraries at the New York Public Library (NYPL) from 2004.Van Gelder, Lawrence. "Arts briefing; Highlights -- Literary Lion." New York Times. April 26, 2004. In 2007 his role expanded with additional responsibilities as director of New York Public Library's Branch Libraries. He was responsible for the management and operations of NYPL's research libraries since 2005 and the branch libraries since 2007. He presided over a major restructuring, which was accompanied by elimination of some positions and the creation of new ones."NYPL head = Natl. archivist; New Catalog, Restructuring," Library Journal (August 1, 2009). Vol. 134, Issue 13, p. 11. Ferriero argued that transformation was imperative as NYPL adapted to the profound cultural and societal developments affecting the future of libraries.Ferriero, David and David Offensend. "Transforming NYPL," Library Journal (May 15, 2008). Vol. 133, Issue 9, p. 12.
Ferriero prioritized staff recruitment, retention, training, development, and compensation.Oder, Norman. "NYPL: Synergy on the Way?" Library Journal (February 1, 2005). Vol. 130, Issue 2, pp. 18-19. He also made it a point to try to visit the main reading room every day, assessing the varied needs of NYPL patrons.Koppel, Lily. "Offering Enlightenment, or Just a Little Peace," New York Times. December 27, 2007
Cataloging Ferriero was the NYPL's Partner RepresentativePartner Representatives, OCLC web site in OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), which with its member libraries co-operatively produces and maintains WorldCat—the OCLC Online Union Catalog.OCLC described, OCLS web site During Ferriero's tenure, the library stopped using the unique "Billings classification system" for its reference books in the Rose Reading Room (main reading room) (the classification system is named for John Shaw Billings, the former NYPL librarian who devised and introduced it in the nineteenth century). "NYPL gives up Billings," BiblioTech Web. August 22, 2006.Chan, Sewell. "With a New Classification System, the New York Public Library Makes a Change for the Clearer," New York Times. August 17, 2006.
Google digitization partnership The NYPL joined the Google Books Library Project during Ferriero's tenure.Google Library Project partners Google and major international libraries have agreed to making collections of public domain books available for scanning to be offered to the public online, without charge.New York Public Library + Google
National Archives and Records Administration
On July 28, 2009, President Obama nominated Ferriero to be 10th Archivist of the United States.
An early October confirmation hearing was scheduled by a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. According to the subcommittee chairman, Senator Thomas Carper of Delaware, Ferriero's quick confirmation by the Senate was never in doubt.US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing, October 1, 2009: Nomination of David S. Ferriero to be Archivist of the United States National Archives and Records Administration.
Ferriero used the public occasion to express his view that the National Archives was at a "defining moment with regard to our existing electronic records, social media communications, and emerging technologies being used throughout government offices." He also noted "issues of collection security, the future of the Presidential Library system, backlogs in processing, staff job satisfaction, stakeholder relationships, preservation and storage needs." "Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing on Archivist of the U.S. Nomination," National Humanities Alliance, 2009.
He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 6, 2009;Miller, Jason. "Senate confirms Ferriero to be next Archivist," FederalNewsRadio. November 6, 2009. he was sworn into his new office on November 13, 2009. "David Ferriero Sworn in as 10th Archivist of the United States," NARA Press Release. November 13, 2009.
President Obama appointed Ferriero to simultaneously head the new National Declassification Center, which had "been given four years to go through 400 million pages of federal documents that remain top secret. They date to World War I."Archives director wants you to have access . News & Observer.
On January 13, 2022, Ferriero announced he would retire effective mid-April 2022 after a twelve-year tenure as Archivist of the United States. He urged President Biden to "not hire another white male" to replace him, and said that he chose to retire at that point so that Biden could be the one to name his replacement. Ferriero's retirement was effective on April 30, 2022, and Deputy Archivist Debra Steidel Wall took over as acting Archivist of the United States.
Relationship with Wikipedia As part of his tenure at the National Archives, Ferriero took an active interest in working with Wikipedia, of which he has called himself "a huge fan.", "Young chapter shows experience beyond its years", accessed 17 July 2012. When questioned about the National Archives' engagement with Wikipedia, his response was that "the Archives is involved with Wikipedia because that's where the people are."Dominic McDevitt-Parks, "How does NARA avoid conflicts of interest on Wikipedia?" NARAtions: The Blog of the United States National Archives, 27 September 2012. Under Ferriero's aegis, the National Archives worked with the Wikimedia Foundation since 2009, having had a Wikipedian in Residence and uploaded thousands of images to Wikimedia Commons. He quoted a blogger in saying: "If Wikipedia is good enough for the Archivist of the United States, maybe it should be good enough for you." by David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, see especially (15:00-16:00), and (22:50 - end).
Censorship of archival imagery In January 2020, Ferriero supported the Archives' decision to censor a photograph containing signs critical of President Trump and references to women's anatomy in an exhibit devoted to the centennial of women's suffrage in the United States. The Washington Post reported that Ferriero "participated in talks regarding the exhibit and supports the decision to edit the photo." The alteration of the image was immediately criticized by historians, with Douglas Brinkley saying "to confuse the public is reprehensible. The head of the Archives has to very quickly fix this damage." Subsequently, the National Archives issued an apology for the decision and promised to restore the original image and review its exhibit policies.
Personal life Ferriero married Gail Zimmermann, the daughter of MIT Professor Emeritus Henry Zimmermann., Press Release Her career in broadcasting has led to her position as Associate General Manager of PBS North Carolina in Durham, North Carolina.Washburn, Mark. "Funding Runs Low at Public Broadcasters," Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina). April 14, 2009. Before moving to North Carolina, she worked with WGBH-TV in Boston.
Affiliations PLUS Coalition (Picture Licensing Universal System), Board of Directors.PLUS Coalition, David Ferriero Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Council on Library and Information Resources/Association of American Publishers, Joint Working Group on Scholarly Communication. Early English Books Online (EEBO), editorial advisory board. Center for Research Libraries. Research Libraries Group. Research Collections and Preservation Consortium (ReCAP), Board of Directors
References
Further reading Kovaleski, Serge F. "New York Library Officials’ Pay? Shhh." The New York Times. November 19, 2006. Riding, Alan. "France Detects a Cultural Threat in Google" The New York Times. April 11, 2005. US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing, October 1, 2009: Nomination of David S. Ferriero to be Archivist of the United States National Archives and Records Administration
External links
AOTUS: Collector in Chief, David Ferriero's Blog as Archivist of the United States Biography of David Ferriero, by the National Archives and Records Administration State of the Archives address, by David S. Ferriero "Meet the new Archivist of the United States", video by The Washington Post Victim Impact Statement, re: theft of NYPL maps, 2006.