Remembering long-time UAA Librarian Alden Rollins

Some of you may remember Alden Rollins from the Consortium Library. With memories of respect and appreciation:

Our dignified, erudite, and long-time former library colleague, Alden M. Rollins, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 20, surrounded by his family. Alden was himself an institution at the Consortium Library, serving as reference librarian and head of government documents for 35 years. His steady demeanor and droll sense of humor were legendary. Alden loved being an Alaskan and was a proud member of the Pioneers of Alaska. The group will be adding a plaque in his name to their wall next year on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025.

After earning his MLS from the University of Rhode Island, Alden joined the brand new Consortium Library when it opened in 1973. Throughout his career, he served on many university and library committees, and from 1992-1997, he was head of reference, and served as the Interim Library Director until the current Library Dean was hired. Alden retired from UAA in 1999, when he was awarded Professor Emeritus of Library Science, only the second library faculty member to be so honored. He continued to work on various library-related projects until he fully retired in 2008.

But at heart, Alden was a scholar. In addition to two published books on Roman history, his passion was genealogy. He was active in the Cook Inlet Historical Society and the Anchorage Genealogical Society, and being a proud New Englander, worked closely with genealogical repositories and archives in that part of the country as well. He authored or contributed to numerous indexes, catalogs, and reference guides relevant to both Vermont and Alaska.

Alden, we were privileged to know you. You will be missed.

From Daria O. Carle, Nancy Lesh, Arlene Schmuland and Steve Rollins.