Library director dies Thursday

 Wolf, 70, began his duties at CSC in August 2005. He led many efforts to modernize the library and make it more attractive to visitors.

Wolf had an extensive background in library science and took pride in implementing increasingly sophisticated technological tools throughout his career. Since coming to CSC, the King Library has developed a sizable list of research services that are accessible by library users on the Internet. In addition, the facility has undergone renovations to make it more of a “coffee shop” atmosphere.

He served as the senior vice president for collection programs at The Center for Research Libraries on the campus of the University of Chicago in 1997-1999, where he oversaw the development of more than five million research materials for the facility.

Wolf was described as a librarian, scholar and teacher. He traveled extensively after entering early retirement in 2000, but returned to his career in 2002 citing an affinity for the “intellectual stimulation” that accompanied it.

Wolf is a native of McKeesport, Pa. After graduating from high school, he spent three years in Army intelligence in the early 1960s. He then attended Pennsylvania State University, where he was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in English in 1968. He earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Michigan the following year.

Wolf came to CSC from the University of Central Florida, where he was head of collection management and also taught science fiction and fantasy in the honors college.

His employment experience also included positions at the University of Nevada at Reno, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wright State University, Penn State, and Western Nevada Community College.

He authored dozens of articles for professional journals and three books. Many of his writings were about science fiction. He also performed editorial duties for a variety of journals.