Meet UC Irvine's Endowed University Librarian

Lorelei Tanji

Endowed University Librarian
UC Irvine Libraries

 

Biography

Lorelei Tanji has been the Endowed University Librarian for UC Irvine Libraries since October 2012. She leads a library system that includes four libraries, nearly 5 million volumes, and approximately 200 librarians, archivists, staff members, and student workers. She oversees the strategic vision, mission, and goals of the UC Irvine Libraries.

Through the dedication and contributions of highly skilled UC Irvine Libraries’ employees, the Libraries provide collections and services that support the world-class research, teaching, and patient care on campus. The Libraries also serve as an important gateway to knowledge for the community.

Among her responsibilities, Tanji represents the UC Irvine Libraries at the campus, system-wide, and national/international levels. She is a member of the University of California Libraries’ Council of University Librarians (CoUL), having served as chair for three years (2013-2016) and starting a new term as chair in 2024.

Tanji is a member on the Pacific Rim Research Libraries Alliance (PRRLA), having served as chair from 2016-2018. The alliance focuses on cooperative ventures among research libraries located around the Pacific Rim to improve access to scholarly research materials. She has also served on the Board of the Association for Research Libraries (ARL), a member-driven organization of research libraries in Canada and the United States, and as secretary and board member of the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), a consortium of university, college, and research libraries.

Tanji envisions the library as a major bridge between the campus and community, where its public programs connect and bring people together in a shared experience of interaction and learning.

Education

Tanji received her master of library science (MLS) from UCLA and holds degrees in music from UC Davis (BA) and UCLA (MA). Over the course of her career, she has held various professional positions of increasing responsibility at UC Riverside and UC Irvine.

 

Additional Information