Dr Stella Butler, Deputy Librarian at the John Rylands University Library, University of Manchester, has been appointed as University Librarian and Keeper of the Brotherton Collection.

Dr Butler succeeds Margaret Coutts who retired in October. 

Dr Butler joined the University of Manchester in 2000 as Head of Special Collections and Principal Keeper, after working as a freelance consultant to museums and libraries and as Keeper of Curatorial Services at Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry.  She was appointed Joint Deputy University Librarian and Associate Director of John Rylands Library in 2007.  Stella initiated and led the £17m rebuild and refurbishment of the John Rylands Library on Deansgate, Manchester, securing substantial external funding to transform the building and open up the collections to new audiences.  As well as Deputy Librarian, she is currently also Associate Director, Research and Learning and Teaching Support.
 
Professor Vivien Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Education, said: "I am very much looking forward to welcoming Dr Butler to Leeds. The University Library is one of our greatest assets, and Dr Butler's experience in both special collections and academic support at Manchester's John Rylands University Library means that she is ideally equipped not just to maintain our position at the cutting edge of developments in information resources but to take the library forward in exciting new ways."
 
Dr Butler will take up her post on 1 April 2011.  Brian Clifford, Deputy Librarian, is acting University Librarian until then.