Leading the stacks

By Lexi Liby

At the heart of every great university is a library that connects, inspires and supports. James Wiser, the new dean of K-State Libraries, has stepped in to carry that mission forward.

Wiser began his role in August, bringing with him extensive experience in library leadership and strategic planning. Most recently, he served as dean of library services and educational technology at Abilene Christian University, where he guided the library through significant growth and transformation.

He and his wife, Dr. Candice Ortbals-Wiser, who has joined K-State’s political science department as a professor in comparative politics, are settling into the Manhattan community with their two daughters, Etta, 9, and Marian, 7. With Candice’s family rooted in Kansas, the move feels like a return home. Though Wiser himself is not originally from Kansas, he has felt a strong connection to the state.

“I’ve always felt a sense of home here, and in the few weeks I’ve lived here, that feeling has only deepened," Wiser said. “These are my people. I understand Kansans."

Wiser first visited Hale Library in September 2013 while working with SAGE Publishing. Even then, he noticed a unique energy in the space and knew it was something special.

“The minute we walked into Hale Library, there was just a different vibe,” Wiser recalled. “People seemed to care for each other. They seemed happy to be here, and they seemed to want to align themselves with the greater university.”

That first impression stayed with him and reminded him of what first drew him to this work. Long before he became a library administrator, Wiser discovered his love for connecting people with information while working at Barnes & Noble during high school and college.

“My job was being a bookseller, and I loved it,” he said. “I loved connecting people to information. Sometimes I knew exactly what they needed, sometimes it took a little digging, but helping people find what they were looking for and connecting them to the right resources was the best. At my core, I am a connector, and I believe that is exactly what librarians do.”

That belief now guides his leadership at K-State Libraries. Wiser sees Hale Library as a space that brings the university together around a shared vision. As one of the few spaces on campus that truly serves all departments and students, it has the power to bridge the entire academic community.

“What excites me most is that at the university level, there is a lot of change happening,” said Wiser. “We have a relatively new president, a new provost and new strategic plans for both the university and the library. It feels like there’s a real effort to be on the same page and move forward together.

“I get a sense that K-State has a really healthy sense of itself and that it knows who it is and who it serves.”

As the university moves ahead, Wiser is committed to ensuring the library fosters a sense of belonging and supports students in every way — socially, academically and personally.

“I want the library to feel like a place of hospitality and home, where students can find what they need, whether that means connecting with others, retreating to a quiet cubby on the fourth floor or drawing inspiration from the Great Room,” Wiser said. “I want it to be a space that encourages our students to be their best academic selves. That will look different for everyone, but I want it to be a place for all.”

Wiser emphasized that this vision builds on the work of those who came before him and reflects the university’s mission to serve Kansas.

“I deeply value my predecessors in this role,” Wiser said. “They are the people who have made this library what it is today, and their work has given me the opportunity to look outward and share our story with Kansas, the university and the wider world.

“I love the land-grant mission of this campus and the fact that we are open to the community. We support students by preparing them for the workforce, we support faculty because that directly impacts students, and in everything we do we keep the state of Kansas at the heart of our work.”