William Gosling, University Librarian Emeritus and Curator Emeritus of the Children’s Literature Collection at University of Michigan, died on February 11, 2019, at age 76.
At University of Michigan (U-M), Gosling served as university librarian from 1997 to 2005. Under his leadership, U-M became one of the initial partners in the Google Books Project, which grew into the HathiTrust Digital Library. Before becoming university librarian, Gosling was assistant director for technical services and library systems at U-M from 1986 to 1997. Prior to that, he served as head of technical services at Duke University Libraries from 1976 to 1986. He began his career at the Library of Congress, where he worked in the MARC Development Office and directed the Cataloging in Publication Program.
Gosling was active in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), serving on the Committee for Access to Information Resources in 1999–2001 and the Preservation of Research Library Materials Committee in 2001–2003.
In lieu of flowers, donations in remembrance of Gosling may be made to the William A. Gosling Children’s Literature Endowment (Fund #329276). Visitation will be 6:00–8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, at Nie Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1, at First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, 608 E. William Street.
For more information about his life and career, see Bill Gosling’s obituary from the Ann Arbor News.
