Photo from Web.
W. Lee Hisle, the Vice President for Information Services and Librarian of the College, has a lamp-lit office in the back of Shain Library, which feels a world away from the stern rows of computers and black shelves outside his door. As I walk in, I notice a wall of nametags and a small collection of tribal masks. He tosses me a piece of chocolate and invites me to pull up a chair.
What does the title Vice President for Information Services mean?
It’s a merged organization of library and information technology. It’s a senior administrative position in the College. I’m responsible for libraries and information technology; information technology includes the telecommunications, help desk, administrative systems, web, technical support and infrastructure of the College.
When the wireless goes down do people come to you?
My colleagues handle that. That’s in our department.
We seem to get a lot of e-mails directly from you…
There is a listserv for all the classes. I try to control how many messages we send out, but sometimes I need to send out a message to all faculty, students and staff when something is going on that they need to know about. For example, Friday, we had to take the network down, and had to inform everybody that we were going to do that. Sometimes I send out messages about peer-to-peer file sharing abuses.
Have you ever been tempted to send out a prank message?
No, I’ve never been tempted to send out a prank message. That would not be appropriate.
How long have you been at Connecticut College?
I’m in my twelfth year.
Where were you before Connecticut College?
I was in Austin, Texas with the Austin Community College District, a little old community college district with 27,000 students.
Why did you choose to come to Conn?
I always wanted to work in a small liberal arts college. I was attracted to leading a merged organization of libraries and information technology. It’s a beautiful college and beautiful campus. When I interviewed, I met some great faculty and staff and felt like it would be a good fit.
What was Texas like for you compared to Connecticut?
Well, Texas was hot compared to Connecticut. Everybody was always ready for the summer to end. Austin, Texas is a beautiful and vibrant city. It was strange to move into the small town life of the Connecticut coastal area.
What do you like most about Connecticut?
I like the people I work with here. They are bright and committed to the work we’re all doing. I really like the mission of the College. I like the fact were working in a residential liberal arts school with really bright students. And I really like the job, as I thought I would. There’s never a dull moment.
What is the craziest thing you’ve ever seen in the library?
I don’t know if there’s anything too crazy I have ever seen in the library. I guess a few years ago there were some streakers. I didn’t see them but I heard about them. All that lack of sleep, I guess. They let their inhibitions down.
If you were an ice cream flavor which would you be and why?
Rocky Road, I guess. Because it’s a lot of variety in that particular ice cream. That’s one of the things I like — a lot of variety in life.
Why is there a private bathroom for faculty and staff in Shain Library?
It’s a very small and awkward space that staff feel would be overrun were it to be public, but in fact, we are looking at changing that designation. Stay tuned.
What is your favorite hobby?
Oh, one favorite hobby?
You can name a few.
Tennis, golf, skiing- I’d ski everyday if I could.
What is something we don’t know about you that you’d like to share?
Many of your readers might not know that I do a Texas radio music show on WCNI every other Monday night.
What does a Texas radio music show entail?
It’s Americana featuring Texas singers and songwriters.
Do you consider yourself a Texan?
I wasn’t born in Texas but I got there as fast as I could. I think of it as much as my own as I do Kentucky, the state in which I was born.
What is your favorite local hotspot?
I like the tavern down in New London, the Dutch Tavern. The Knickerbocker is a great bar and place to hear music over in Rhode Island, in Westerly.
Anything you want to say to the students of CC?
Live long and prosper. •
