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Biography

Frank R. Allen serves as Senior Director for Administrative Services at UCF Libraries, overseeing financial affairs, facilities management and high-level human resources.  He is responsible for an $18 million budget, human resource oversight for 105 full-time faculty/staff, and facilities oversight for the 270,000 square foot John C. Hitt Library.  He participates in day-to-day and long-range planning, establishment of library-wide policies, and has dotted line relationships with numerous staff and departments. Frank joined UCF in 1998. He served as interim Director of UCF Libraires in 2020/2021.

Frank serves on ALA’s CORE Buildings & Operations Planning and Design Committee, with past service including Chair of the Program Committee, Section Head for the Buildings and Equipment (BES) section, and Chair of the LLAMA Program Committee. He is an invited referee for College and Research Libraries, and the Journal of Academic Librarianship. His research interests include the economics of information, and library facilities infrastructure. He sits on the Board of Trustees for the Maitland (Florida) Public Library (2019+), currently serving as Treasurer.

Frank holds an MLIS from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; MBA from the University of Texas at Austin; and a BSBA in Finance from the University of Florida.  He completed the three-year College Business Management Institute, Southern Association of College & University Business Officers (SACUBO), Lexington, Kentucky in 1997.

Frank and his wife Kathy have two adult children. They live in Maitland, where they enjoy time with two Australian labradoodles and a precocious cat, between international travels.

Selected Scholarship

Publications

Allen, Frank R. and Moyer, Mike. “A Library Seating Census: Gathering Seating Occupancy Data in an Academic Library to Reveal Furniture Preferences and Inform Future Planning”, Journal of Academic Librarianship, 47, No. 5: (September 2021).  Refereed.

Allen, Frank R. “Resumes, Cover Letters and References”; Sidebar to The Librarian’s Guide to Writing for Professional Publication, (Monograph), Marta Mestrovic Deyrup; Libraries Unlimited ABC-CLIO, Fall, (2018).

Allen, Frank R. Storage Options: Making Decisions about Print Materials. In [Monograph] Creating the High Functioning Library Space: Expert Advice from Librarians, Architects and Designers (pp.135-148). Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited ABC-CLIO, LLC (2016) 

Allen, Frank R. “The Knowledge Commons: Reasserting the Library as the Heart of Campus”,   College and Research Libraries News, 72, no. 8: 468+ (September, 2011)

Allen, Frank R. and Frierson, Eric.  “Perspectives on Leadership – An Interview with Frank Allen.” Library Leadership and Management, 24, no. 4: 185-188 (Fall, 2010)

Mullins, James L, Allen, Frank R., Hufford, Jon R. “Top Ten Assumptions for the Future of Academic Libraries and Librarians: A Report from the ACRL Research Committee.”  College and Research Libraries News, 68, no.4: 240+ (April, 2007)

Allen, Frank R. and Dickie, Mark, “Toward a Formula-Based Model for Academic Library Funding: Statistical Significance and Implications of a Model Based upon Institutional Characteristics.” College & Research Libraries 68, no. 2: 170-181 (March, 2007).  Refereed.

Harless, David W. and Allen, Frank R., “Using the Contingent Valuation Method to Measure Patron Benefits of Reference Desk Service in an Academic Library”, College & Research Libraries 60, no. 1: 56-69 (January, 1999).  Refereed

Allen, Frank R. and Watstein, Sarah B. “Point/Counterpoint: The Value of Place”, College & Research Libraries News, 57, no. 6: 372-373 (June, 1996).

Allen, Frank R. “Materials Budgets in the Electronic Age: A Survey of Academic Libraries”, College & Research Libraries, 57, no. 2: 133-143 (March, 1996). Refereed.

Allen, Frank R. “Essential Business Reference Sources – A Survey of Seven Bibliographic Guidebooks”, RQ (Reference Quarterly), no. 1: 77-84 (Fall, 1993). Refereed.

Allen, Frank R. and Smith, Rita H. “A Survey of Telephone Inquiries: Case Study & Operational Impact in an Academic Library Reference Department”, RQ (Reference Quarterly), 32, no. 3: 382-91 (Spring, 1993). Refereed.

Allen, Frank R. and Epling, Susan, “Organize your Personal Library Using dBase III Plus,” Computers in Libraries 12, no. 9: 32-39 (October, 1992).

Editorial and Editorship Activities

Editorial Board, Library Leadership & Management (LL&M), a journal of ALA Core; 2024-25. Core is a division of the American Library Association.

Invited manuscript referee, College and Research Libraries, (ACRL) 2010+

Invited manuscript referee, Journal of Academic Librarianship, 2014+

Invited Guest Referee, Library & Information Science Research (Elsevier), 2012

Editor, The Southeastern Librarian, 2001-2005

Editor’s Column author, The Southeastern Librarian, Volumes 48-52, 2001-2004

Editorial consultant for Oryx Press: Schlessinger, Bernard S. The Basic Business Library: Core Resources.  3rd edition, 1995.

Grants, Gifts, and Awards

Solicitor, with the UCF Foundation, a $20,000 cash gift to UCF Libraries by former UCF President John C. Hitt and Mrs. Martha Hitt. Proceeds used to fund a podcast studio and portable display tables in the main library.  December, 2021.

Principal investigator, $1,600 grant, “The Florida Travels of William Bartram and Andre Michaux: Garden in the Wilderness”; funded by the Florida Humanities Council, Fall, 2003.  Proceeds underwrote a two-day symposium.  

Principal solicitor, $75,000 donation from the Chesley G. Magruder Foundation, Spring 2000. Funds were used to renovate the University of Central Florida Library entryway.

Principal investigator, $20,000 grant funded by Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), October, 1996.  Award funded for research to survey students and faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University on use of academic library reference services.

Internal: Co-Principal solicitor, $114,804 institutional award, “Curriculum Materials Center – A Library, Learning Lab and Production Center”, funded by the University of Central Florida Technology Fee Committee, December, 2014.  Proceeds used to update and provide enhanced technology in the Curriculum Materials Center.

Internal: Principal solicitor, $84,266 institutional award, “Rosen College Library Technology Enhancement”, funded by the University of Central Florida Technology Fee Committee, November, 2013.  Proceeds used to purchase desktop PCs, portable technology devices, wall mounted monitors (and PCs) in group study rooms, wiring of new data drops, and enhanced wireless access points.

Internal:  Principal solicitor, $902,757 institutional award, “UCF Libraries Knowledge Commons”; funded by the University of Central Florida Technology Fee Committee, 2010.  Repurposed the main floor of Orlando campus library, adding seating, electrical & data connectivity, technology enhancements.

Presentations, Programs, and Invited Podcasts

“The Quiet Revolution is Loud:  Are Libraries Ready to Listen?”, Program Panel Presentation:  Frank Allen, Will Cook, Matt McLain, Antone Sgro, Barak Yaryan; Core Forum, Denver, CO, November 13, 2025. Sponsored by the Core Division of ALA.  

“Redesigning Success:  Lessons in Multi-Phase Renovation and Student-Centered Spaces”, Program Panel Presentation:  Frank Allen, Amanda Rienth, Alyson Kritz and Joe Agati; American Library Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, June 28, 2025. Sponsored by the Core Division of ALA.   

“Shifting from Book Space to People Space at the University of Central Florida | Episode 26: A Conversation with UCF Libraries and Steinberg Hart Architecture”.  Podcast hosted by Agati Furniture; https://youtu.be/Nw1BR_zSqyk?si=e5LlJOjxinRU4uDA; October 16, 2024.  Amanda Rienth and Delia Nevola, Steinberg Hart Architecture; Frank Allen, UCF Libraries; Joe Agati, Principal.

“24/5 Library Services on a Dime: How a University Library is Offering Extended Hours Cost Effectively and with an Eye for Safety and Security”, Frank Allen sole presenter, 2024 Access Services Conference, Georgia Tech Global Learning Center, Atlanta, Georgia, November 20, 2024.

“Frank Allen on Designing a 21st Century Library”, Episode 15, Agati Video Podcast Series,  Frank Allen and Joe Agati, https://www.agati.com/blog/frankallen/, March 16, 2023.

“Furniture: Tried, True, and What’s New!”, American Library Association (ALA) CORE Forum Conference. Panel presentation with D. Wrightson, E. Martin, and J, Lutz; October 15, 2022, Salt Lake City, Utah. CORE is a division of ALA.

“A Library Seating Census:  Gathering Seating Occupancy Data in an Academic Library to Reveal Furniture Preferences and Inform Future Planning”, American Library Association Conference, June 24th, 2019. Refereed presentation. Co-panelist with Mike Moyer.  Sponsored by Library Leadership and Management Association, a division of ALA.

 “The New Normal; Securing Library Construction Funding in an Era of Uncertainty”, American Library Association Conference, June 24th, 2017. Chicago IL.  Responsible for the program application process, vetting, revisions, approval, and marketing through LLAMA and ALA Conference Services. [Served as program sponsor and underwriter. No speaking role]

“UCF Knowledge Commons – A Student and Library Partnership”, Invited Speaker, Tampa Bay Library Consortium Annual Meeting – Remixing our World, November 2, 2012, Tampa, FL.

Toward a Formula-Based Model for Academic Library Funding:  Statistical Significance and Implications of a Model Based upon Institutional Characteristics”, Invited poster session, Association of Research Libraries Fair Share, Chicago, IL, June 28, 2005.

“Toward a Formula-Based Model for Academic Library Funding:  Statistical Significance and Implications of a Model Based upon Institutional Characteristics”, Refereed poster session, ACRL 12th National Conference, Minneapolis, MN,  April  9th, 2005. 

“Hurricane Preparedness:  Lessons Learned”, Invited panelist, Central Florida Library Consortium, Maitland, FL, March 28, 2005.

“Getting Started with Book Reviews”, Invited speaker and panelist, West Virginia Library Association Annual Conference, White Sulphur Springs, WV, Dec 2, 2003.

“The Travels of William Bartram and Andre Michaux in Florida: Garden in the Wilderness”, Program Chair and Moderator, University of Central Florida Library, October 10 and 11, 2003.

“Just-In-Time vs. Just-in-Case in Duplicate: Just How Many Ways Can We Serve Up Access to the Journal Literature”, Invited paper, Charleston Conference, Charleston, S.C., November 5, 1998.

“Going Online: Keeping Geographically Distant Students Connected to University Services”, Invited Panel Session Facilitator, University of Phoenix faculty, EDUCOM, Orlando, FL, October 14, 1998.

“Measuring Patron Benefits of Reference Desk Service in an Academic Library”, Allen, Frank R. and Harless, David W., ALA Library Research Roundtable, Research Forum, ALA Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., June 29, 1998.

“Materials Budget Allocation in the Electronic Library”, Program chair, moderator and speaker, 7th National ACRL Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, March 30, 1995.

“Trends in Materials Budget Allocations: A Survey of Academic Libraries”, Refereed poster session, American Library Association Conference, Chicago, IL, June 24th, 1995.

UCF Libraries Committees and Service

  • Chair, Furniture Committee, 2025+
  • Leader, Library Storm Team, 2024+ (A rapid response group who staff the main Library before and after inclement weather when most campus operations are suspended).
  • Coordinator, Evacuation Response Team, 2023+
  • Coordinator, Library SME (Subject Matter Expert) taskforce, Support Staff Career Pathways project, Spring 2024
  • Coordinator, 21ST Century Building Planning Committee, 2014-2023
  • Chair, search committee for Associate Dean, Technology and Digital Strategies, 2023
  • UCF Downtown Library Planning Committee, 2015-2019
  • Chair, search committee for Head, Circulation Services, 2014
  • Chair, search committee for Head, Curriculum Materials Center, 2013
  • Faculty meeting Chair, UCF Libraries Faculty, 2010 – 2011
  • Library Faculty Advisory Committee, 2001-2011
  • Librarians’ Personal Advisory Committee, (Promotion committee), 2008-2011
  • Chair, Knowledge Commons Taskforce, 2009-10
  • Chair, search committee for Associate Director, Collections and Technical Services, 2008
  • Chair, “Libraries in 2017 Strategic Planning Taskforce”, 2007
  • Chair, search committee for Head Regional Campus Libraries, 2006
  • Coordinator, Construction Taskforce, School of Film and Digital Library, 2006.
  • UCF Libraries Mentoring Committee, 2004-2007
  • Chair, Copy and Print Services Re-engineering program, 2004
  • Relay for Life Committee (American Cancer Society), 2003-2004
  • Chair, Search Committee, Reference Librarian, Rosen School of Hospitality Library, 2003/2004
  • Chair, Search Committee, Head, Rosen School of Hospitality Library, 2003
  • Coordinator, Rosen School of Hospitality Library Start-Up Operations Planning Team, 2003
  • Chair, Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Procedures Taskforce, 2002-2003
  • Library Web Implementation Committee, 2002-2007
  • Design and Construction Coordinator, Rosen School of Hospitality Library, 2002-2004
  • UCF Library Diversity Week Committee, 2008, 2002, 1998
  • Chair, UCF Library, Florida State Employees Charitable Campaign (FSECC), 1998-2002, 2008-09; Co-chair 2003-2007.
  • Chair, UCF Library Vision and Program Review (strategic planning) Taskforce, 1999 – 2000
  • Chair, Search Committee for Head, Curriculum Materials Center, 2000
  • Chair, Search Committee for Head of Reference, 2000.
  • Chair, Library Statistics Taskforce, 2000
  • Library E-books taskforce, 2000
  • Chair, UCF Library Screening Committee, Associate Director for Public Services, 1999
  • UCF Library Evaluation and Merit Taskforce, 1999
  • Coordinator, ARL Satellite Conference, “De-Mystifying Licensing of Electronic Resources”, 1999
  • Library Chair, UCF 7th Annual Diversity Week Celebration, Fall, 1999

University (UCF) Committees and Service

  • UCF Council on Accessibility, 2021-22
  • UCF Faculty Senate Library Advisory Committee, Ex Officio, 2020-21
  • UCF Collective Impact Study; Team 5 member, “Operational Efficiencies”, 2016-17
  • University Strategic Planning Council, 2011-2014
  • Professional Development Leave (PDL) Committee, 2009
  • Planning Taskforce, UCF/Seminole Community College, Joint-Use Building Project, 2006-2008
  • Planning Taskforce, UCF/Lake Sumter Community College/Lake County Public Library, Building Project, 2006-2008
  • UCF Card Advisory Board, 2006-2008
  • UCF Continuity of Operations (COOP) Committee, 2004-07
  • UCF Search Committee, Coordinator, Educational Training Programs, HR Office, 2004 and 2000
  • Regional Campus Operations Committee, 2003
  • Bonus Review Committee, Office of Information Technologies and Resources, 2002
  • UCF Strategic Planning Council, 1998-2002
  • Library-to-Student Liaison, UCF Engineering School Study, Emergency Preparedness for the UCF Library, Fall, 1998

Service to the Profession

American Library Association, 1991-

  • CORE (Successor to LLAMA)
    • Buildings/Operations: Planning and Design committee, July 1, 2022+
    • LL&M Editorial Board, July 1, 2024-2025
  • Library Leadership and Management Association Division (LLAMA), 1994-
    • LLAMA BES Planning and Design Committee, July, 2018-2022
    • LLAMA Content Coordinating Team, 2017-2019
    • LLAMA Leadership Development Committee, 2015-17
    • Co-Chair, ACRL/LLAMA Interdivisional Committee on Building Resources, 2015-17
    • LLAMA Nominating Committee, 2015-16
    • Chair (Section head), Buildings and Equipment Section (BES), 2013-2014
    •   LOMS Financial and Administrative Services Committee, 2012+
    • LL&M (journal) Publications Advisory Committee, 2010-2011
    • Candidate for LLAMA President, 2010
    • BES Library Buildings Award Committee, 2009-2011
    • Chair, LLAMA Program Committee, 2007-2009
    • LLAMA Program Committee, 2006-2009
    • LLAMA President’s Program Committee, 2005-2006
    • Co-Chair, “Got Data, Now What: Utilizing Assessment Results as Power Tools in Your   Library”, Library Administration and Management Association (LLAMA) Pre-conference, Orlando, Florida, June 25, 2004.  
    • LLAMA/MAES Using Measurement Data for Planning, Evaluation and Communications committee, 2001-2003
    • LLAMA/MAES Secretary, 2002-2004
    • LLAMA/BES Functional Space Requirements Committee, 1998 – 2000
    • LLAMA/LOMS Financial Management Committee, 1996-1999
    • LLAMA/LOMS Fiscal and Business Officers Discussion Group, 1993-2004
  • Association of College and Research Libraries Division (ACRL), 1993-
    • Co-Chair, ACRL/LLAMA Interdivisional Committee on Building Resources, 2014-17
    • Research Planning and Review Committee, 2006-2009
    • Personnel Administrators & Staff Development Officers Discussion Group, 1993-99
  • ALA Direct
    • ALA Conference Planning Coordinating Team (CPCT), 2009-2011
    • Chair, ALA Editors’ Interest subcommittee, ALA Chapter Relations, 2002-2005
    • ALA Pay Equity committee (Intern), 1997 – 1999

Southeastern Library Association, 2000-2006

  • Chair, SELA President’s Award Committee, 2005-2006
  • SELA Executive Board, 2001-2004

Other Service to the Profession

  • Council of State University Libraries (Florida), Shared Print Taskforce, 2019
  • ASERL ‘New Metrics’ Committee, 2016-18
  • Member, State University System, Statewide Remote Storage Taskforce, 2008-18  
  • Mentor, Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute, 2008-2009

Selected Community Service

  • Member, Maitland Public Library Board of Trustees, [Florida], 2019+.
    • Chair, Nominating Committee, 2023+
    • Interim Treasurer, March 2025+
    • Vice-Chair, 2022-23.
  • Community Advisory Board member, WMFE 90.7 Public Radio, Orlando, 2018-2020
  • Advisory Board, University of Tennessee Knoxville, School of Information Sciences, 2017-20
  • Dommerich Estates Civic Association, Board Member, 2016-18
  • Advancement Chair – Boy Scout Troop 205, Maitland Florida, 2012-15
  • Counselor, The Jobs Partnership of Florida, Eatonville, Florida initiative, 2010-11 (Community workforce development program)
  • Chair (2007), Staff Parish Relations Committee, First United Methodist Church, Winter Park, Florida, 2006-08.
  • Hurricane Katrina Relief Aid Mission, Pascagoula, Miss, October, 2005
  • Helping Hands Community Service Initiative, Winter Park, Florida, 2003-2005
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