RICHARD T. SWEENEY
University Librarian
Obituary

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) University Librarian, Richard T. Sweeney, age 70, a visionary researcher of the behavior of Millennials, and a pioneer in the development of electronic and digital library systems, information literacy, "smart" buildings, and new multi-media teaching methods died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident while walking near the university in Newark, N.J. on Friday.

Mr. Sweeney was born and raised in Atlantic City, N.J., attended Holy Spirit High School and was a graduate of Villanova University (B.S. in Humanities), Rowan University (M.A. in Library Science) and Drexel University (M.S. in Information Systems). He began his career in public librarianship in Atlantic City, relocated to Flint, MI, and then became Executive Director and one of the youngest heads of a major U.S. public library in Columbus, Ohio, before becoming Dean of Libraries at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He was recruited by NJIT in 1995 and recently received a meritorious service award for his twenty years of service there.

NJIT President, Bloom said: "Richard was one of the easiest interviews I ever had. He had already been vetted by all of the appropriate people. The job was his if he said "yes." But he showed up with a bundle of files and a presentation that began "I have an idea for a "Library in a Box!" I don't know if the phrase was original with him or not, but I'd never heard it before. I was knocked out. And he continued with more ideas; ideas that he shared freely during the twenty years of service we just honored him for. We will miss him dearly."

Mr. Sweeney was a thirty-six year, active member of the American Library Association and served on many of its committees, presenting and lecturing at various sessions throughout his career. He presented his breakthrough, continuing research work on Millennials (people born from 1979 to 1994) and information literacy at over sixty sessions nationally and internationally, including to a global UNESCO audience in 2008 at the oldest library in the world, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt – a particular point of pride.

He is survived by his wife of twenty-five years, Janet Rubenstein Sweeney, his children, Meghan Huftalen, Moira (Stavros) Christoudias, MD, Thomas Sweeney and Maureen (Todd) Spanier, two brothers, Harry and Paul Sweeney, a sister, Margaret (Peggy) Sykes, their spouses and nine grandchildren. Virginia Beschen Sweeney, Mr. Sweeney's first wife also survives him.

A viewing will be held on Sunday from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM at Flynn & Son/Koyen Funeral Home on 319 Amboy Avenue in Metuchen, NJ. A Mass of Christian burial at 10:15 AM Monday morning at St. Francis' Cathedral on 32 Elm Street, also in Metuchen. Interment will follow in Hillside Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD, 21741-5014.