[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 25, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S5368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    TRIBUTE TO DR. NEOSHA A. MacKEY

 Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Neosha A. 
Mackey, who retired earlier this summer as dean of university libraries 
at Missouri State University after 27 years of service. During her 
years of dedicated service, Mackey oversaw the expansion of the Meyer 
Library to meet the needs of the academic community with improved 
access to local archives, manuscripts and photographs. The MSU library 
system also improved its access to other research materials with a 
Special Collections and Archives section available to internet users 
that was previously only accessible to view at the MSU Library.
  Mackey started at Missouri State as the head of reference in 1985. 
Later she served as associate dean of library services, 1987-2009; 
acting dean, 1993-1995, and was appointed dean of library services in 
2009.
  During her tenure, the library enhanced services with a $28 million 
addition and renovation project. Mackey has also been a presence in the 
classroom teaching both undergraduate and graduate level courses while 
monitoring budgets and coordinating personnel matters. As Missouri 
State reached out to establish programs and classes for students in 
China, Mackey and her husband John took a leadership role in the 
development of those programs.
  Mackey also directed an expansion of the Meyer Library's local 
archives and collections with a loan agreement to house, preserve, and 
provide access to manuscripts and photographs owned by The History 
Museum for Springfield-Greene County. The History Museum holds a 
comprehensive collection of photographs and personal documents 
capturing decades of history and changing cultures in Springfield and 
Greene Counties. The new campus location promises improved access for 
researchers and the general public as well as a safer climate- and 
temperature-controlled location for these priceless archives.
  Before arriving at Missouri State, Mackey was at the Ohio State 
University from 1978-1985 as personnel librarian and head of the home 
economics library. She served as assistant to the dean, 1975-1977, and 
as head of the Parish Business Library, 1970-1975, at the University of 
New Mexico. Mackey has a bachelor of arts in economics and a master's 
in library science from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from the 
University of New Mexico.
  Mackey's achievements and her personal commitment to excellence have 
guided the Missouri State Library program to a place of national 
prominence. I thank her for her efforts and wish her well in her well-
deserved retirement.

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