by Raithlyn Godfrey

You’ve said that growing up in a rural community shaped your views on access. How have those views changed over the course of your career? Did your rural upbringing inform your decision to take the job in West Virginia?

My views on the value and importance of access haven’t really changed. Growing up in a rural community, where people often lacked access to information or needed help navigating what was available, has always grounded and motivated my work in libraries.

What has evolved is my understanding of the broader information ecosystem and its ability to actually deliver on that promise of access. Early in my career, I more naively believed that existing systems would naturally direct resources to where they were most needed, guided by feedback and collaboration with libraries. I don’t believe that anymore. Meaningful access doesn’t happen automatically. It requires intentional change. Systems and structures have to be reshaped, and libraries need to play a leading role in that work. Large, for-profit publishers, in particular, are not well positioned to meet the information needs of the public.

Given increasing market consolidation and the ongoing pressures facing libraries, I think we have to be more assertive. That means being willing to declare independence from organizations and models that don’t align with the best interests of libraries or the communities we serve.

My rural upbringing absolutely informed my decision to take this role at West Virginia University. It’s both familiar and urgent to me. I understand firsthand what it means when access is limited, and I see this as an opportunity to help build systems that work better for communities like the ones I grew up in.

You’ve worked in academic libraries and for EBSCO. How did those experiences influence the way you think about scholarly communication?

Those experiences shaped my thinking quite a bit. I’m especially grateful for my time at EBSCO. While I was there, I completed my MLIS and gained opportunities to develop technical and business skills that I still rely on today.

Having an inside view of how vendors think about their products and relationships with libraries has made me a more effective, and more disciplined, negotiator. In my previous role, where vendor negotiations were a more significant part of my responsibilities, I was able to achieve meaningful cost savings without sacrificing too much in return. At the same time, I helped expand support for open access by a factor of twelve with only modest increases in cost.

More broadly, those experiences gave me a more comprehensive view of the scholarly communication ecosystem. When a WVU faculty member publishes an article, or when WVU Press releases a new book, there are multiple pathways to ensure that work reaches its audience. We have indexing services, discovery platforms, institutional repositories, and more. Understanding how those systems intersect has been incredibly valuable.

From my perspective, engaging in scholarly communication is one of the most strategic ways libraries can partner with and have a meaningful impact on the broader university community. It’s where access, visibility, and institutional mission all come together.

What attracted you to WVU and this position?

There were several factors that drew me to WVU and this role. First, the vision and ambition articulated by President Benson are incredibly compelling. I come from an institution that was a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), and I’m passionate about positioning libraries as strong, strategic partners in advancing the research enterprise.

Too often, libraries hold back from fully aligning their services to support research. In many cases, that hesitation is understandable. Libraries have faced sustained financial pressures for years. If we want to change that narrative and make a stronger case for investment, we have to think and act differently.

At WVU Libraries, we have a real opportunity to do just that. By being more intentional and strategic in how we invest our resources, by, for example, strengthening research support while also advancing priorities like student success and retention, we can demonstrate clear value to the institution. That’s how we move the needle. The way I see it, WVU has a lot going for it, and that’s a big part of why I’m excited to be here.

In terms of the role itself, I was especially drawn to the breadth of the portfolio, including the Press, the Humanities Center, and the Neal Museum. It’s a unique combination, and one where each component reinforces the others. More broadly, my belief in the reach and impact of libraries continues to motivate me. I see this role as an opportunity to lead in ways that expand that impact across the university and beyond.

WVU Libraries and WVU Press now operate under the same leadership. Where do you see the strongest opportunities for collaboration?

Libraries and university presses belong together because we’re different parts of the same ecosystem; we just achieve our goals in slightly different ways. At the core, we’re both focused on sharing knowledge.

With that in mind, I see one of the strongest opportunities for collaboration in open access. Libraries have been moving in this direction for some time, but for smaller university presses and society publishers, open access can be more challenging to navigate. That’s where I think we can make real progress together. By aligning our efforts, we can help advance sustainable models that serve both the press and the broader scholarly community. Increased access ultimately benefits the press as well by expanding the reach and visibility of its work.

I’m particularly interested in how we might contribute to shaping more viable models for open access monographs. There are a number of approaches emerging, but each comes with its own challenges. This is an area where closer collaboration between libraries and presses can make a meaningful difference.

I’m also excited to have the Press as part of the Libraries portfolio because it strengthens our connection to WVU’s land-grant mission. Through the Press, we have an opportunity to elevate and share the important stories of Appalachia broadly, and West Virginia specifically, in ways that extend our impact well beyond campus.

Universities produce an enormous amount of research. What are some of the biggest challenges in connecting that work with readers outside higher education?

Higher education is in a challenging moment. In some ways, the pressures we’re facing are undeserved, but I also think they’re forcing us to confront something important. We’ve become too siloed and, in some cases, too disconnected from the broader public we’re meant to serve.

That disconnect is one of the biggest challenges in bringing research to audiences outside the academy. It’s not just about access; it’s about connection. We do an incredible job producing knowledge, but we don’t always do enough to help people see how that knowledge fits into their lives.

That’s where libraries and scholarly communication have an essential role to play. We create the pathways and conditions that allow research to reach broader audiences and have real impact. Researchers are experts in their fields, but making those connections often requires additional time, intention, and partnership.

If we take a step back, the challenge becomes clearer. We can tell the story of West Virginia’s path to statehood in great detail, but if we don’t also connect that story to where the state is today, or where it could go in the future, we’ve missed an opportunity. The same is true across disciplines. We can’t afford to separate science, social science, or the humanities from the everyday experiences of the people they’re meant to serve.

For me, the challenge, and the opportunity, for libraries and university presses is to close that gap. It’s to ensure that the extraordinary research we produce doesn’t just exist but truly connects with people in ways that are relevant, accessible, and ultimately improve lives.

Have you come across any books, writers, or stories that have helped introduce you to West Virginia?

This might sound like librarian malpractice, but I’m not much of a reader. Every once in a while, I find a book that really grabs my attention, but I’m probably more of a gamer (not nearly to the degree of some. I do make it outside once in a while. 😊).

I also tend to be late to the party with games. It wasn’t until around the start of the pandemic that I picked up Fallout 76 on Xbox. For those who aren’t familiar with the series, Fallout is set in a post–nuclear war version of the United States, where the government has collapsed and different factions have emerged, each shaped by what they value. You also see echoes of pre-war corporations and how their decisions continue to influence the world long after they’re gone. It’s a fascinating lens on society.

Fallout 76 is set in Appalachia and covers much of West Virginia. Through the game, I gained some familiarity with the state’s cities and towns, as well as iconic landmarks like the New River Gorge Bridge. It also introduced me to some of West Virginia’s folklore: the Grafton Monster, the Flatwoods Monster, and, of course, Mothman.

I’m genuinely excited to be here now and to experience the real West Virginia, and not the fictionalized version. West Virginia is a truly beautiful place with amazing people and stories that the world needs to know.

Is there a library, archive, or special collection that has had a lasting impact on you?

The Boston Public Library has had the most lasting impact on me. Having lived in the greater Boston area for the last 28 years, I’ve come to see it as both a civic landmark and a personal touchstone. While often considered the first large municipally funded public library in the United States, it distinguishes itself not only through its history, but through its continued relevance.

The central branch, including the McKim Building (opened in 1895), feels like a museum in its own right. Its third floor features a sweeping mural cycle by John Singer Sargent, completed over several decades, culminating in a powerful and somber reflection shaped by World War I.

Beyond its architectural and artistic significance, BPL is also a member of the Association for Research Libraries and maintains exceptional research collections. Its historic map collection is particularly compelling, especially given Boston’s dramatically evolving geography over time.

For me, the Boston Public Library embodies the idea that a public library can be both broadly accessible and deeply scholarly. It is a place where history, art, and research coexist in a way that continues to inform and inspire. I aspire to lead WVU Libraries to have that kind of presence and impact for West Virginia, with the goal of achieving similar national and international recognition.

So you’re a bit of a gamer… What kinds of games do you tend to gravitate toward?

Role-playing games (RPGs) are my genre of choice. Most recently, I’ve been working on my second playthrough of Elden Ring. During my first run, I completed the main game and most of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, though I have yet to defeat its final boss.

Are there any games whose stories have stayed with you the way a good book does?

Narrative-driven games tend to stay with me the most. Elden Ring, for example, stands out not just for its gameplay, but for its layered world-building and lore, shaped in part by George R.R. Martin. I find myself returning to its story much like I would a complex novel, uncovering new details and interpretations with each playthrough. Video games appeal to me because they bring together computer science, artistic design, music, and storytelling in a way that few other mediums can.

What book or author have you recommended most often?

I think the author I’ve recommended most often is David Sedaris. His ability to tell serious stories and make them funny is uncanny. Whether he’s writing about family, work, or everyday misunderstandings, his observations are sharp, self-deprecating, and deeply relatable. I often recommend his books because people from very different backgrounds seem to find something they can connect with in his stories.

What are you reading now?

Right now, I’m reading Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, which was very kindly given to me by Chancellor and Executive Dean Clay Marsh. As someone who likes to lead and think boldly about what is possible, the book has resonated with me. My top CliftonStrengths are Futuristic, Strategic, Maximizer, Input, and Learner, so it is not difficult for me to envision a future in which libraries are thriving and serving as dynamic partners within research institutions.

Too often, the challenges facing libraries can create the belief that our circumstances are fixed. I have never subscribed to that view. What I have appreciated most about Daring Greatly is Brown’s argument that effective leadership requires both courage and vulnerability. That message aligns closely with how I aspire to lead: with optimism, authenticity, and a willingness to take thoughtful risks in pursuit of a compelling vision.