Retirement Reception Recap
University Librarian (UL) Haipeng Li retires June 30, 2026 after a distinguished career as an academic librarian and administrator for over 35 years at institutions both big and small, private and public, domestic and international. Li spent the past 11 years at UC Merced joining us from Hong Kong Baptist University.
On May 28, 2026, friends and the campus community celebrated Li at a retirement reception held in the Library.
In recognition of his service and contributions to UC Merced, Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost Betsy Dumont prepared remarks delivered by Tom Hansford, Vice Provost for Academic Personnel. Dumont noted that Li positioned the Library “as an essential partner in the university’s academic mission by supporting research, strengthening student learning, and building the infrastructure needed for a developing research institution.” Beyond his local impact, she called attention to his contributions to the University of California (UC) system and multiple professional organizations.
In response, Li thanked numerous groups including the campus leadership, his colleagues on the UC Libraries Council of University Librarians (CoUL), friends, faculty, library staff, and his family for their professional and personal support. Li expressed deep gratitude for the many relationships he’s formed during his time as UL. Those connections and friendships were evident from the many who attended.
He noted that librarianship was his second career and a career he does not regret. “Librarianship made me a lot stronger, my life a lot richer, and my vision a lot broader.”
We spoke with Haipeng Li in his final month at UC Merced to hear more about his librarian career, his accomplishments at UC Merced, and future plans.
Interview with Haipeng Li
In your remarks at the retirement reception, you noted that librarianship was your second career. What were your first career aspirations, and what drew you into the field of librarianship?
My first career was teaching English at a high school in China. I started teaching myself English while working on a farm for three years, then I attended a language school. With that training, I taught English at a high school for two years before enrolling in university to study American Literature. Graduate school drew me from China to the United States where I completed a Masters of Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi and pursued PhD studies in American Literature with a plan to teach. However, due to emerging family responsibilities and slim job prospects for PhDs, I considered librarianship at the urging of ‘Ole Miss librarians who knew me from my PhD research. To test the waters, I took some library-science courses in children’s literature before enrolling in the School of Information Science at the University of Arizona. In 1991, I graduated with my library science degree.
Librarianship offers a diversity of roles. What areas of librarianship did you work in and pursue?
During my library school years, I had student jobs and internships in both technical and public services. However, I found that I really enjoyed reference work, so I sought public service positions. I initially had part-time and temporary work first at Arizona State University’s Labriola National American Indian Data Center and the University of Arizona’s Central Reference Department. When a position surfaced at Oberlin College, I applied and got the job. The job market was competitive with 370 applicants for that single position! Oberlin is a wonderful liberal arts college. I worked there for 16 years.
You’ve not only contributed to your local institutions where you’ve worked, but you have been involved extensively in the profession and larger collaborations. What did that work look like?
Oberlin was great but it was small. I always wanted to do more. At that time, I wasn’t ready to leave it, but I wanted to get involved in committees and associations beyond my local institution. I got involved in the American Librarians Association (ALA) work in the 1990s and was selected to attend its first Emerging Leaders Institute in 1997. From 1999 to 2000, I participated in a Leadership and Career Development Program sponsored by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Though I started to serve on committees and take on leadership roles at ALA and the Chinese American Library Association (CALA), I felt like I wanted to invest more of my time into collaborations and partnerships that extended beyond libraries. The Oberlin Shansi provided this opportunity as an educational and cultural exchange organization to foster mutual understanding between Asia and the United States. I served both as a board member and a term as Vice President, and I travelled to establish partnership exchanges in China, India, Japan and Indonesia.
During this time, I continued to be active in library associations as I chaired many committees in ALA, CALA, and the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). Within CALA, I started a mentorship committee and established a new chapter. I co-chaired the second Joint Conference of Libraries of Color (JCLC) and in 2001 organized an international conference on librarianship in China. I wanted to get involved. I wanted to promote the profession.
Through these endeavors, I learned so much from others of diverse backgrounds. I just got a tremendous amount of satisfaction from these collaborations and partnerships. I have always told myself, if you create opportunities for others, you create opportunities for yourself.
What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishments during your time at UC Merced?
I first want to say that any accomplishments are not just my own. They involve the work of many others. One of the biggest achievements is the grant funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to establish important infrastructure for a Sierra Nevada-Central Valley Archive at UC Merced. Winning an NEH grant, and a large one, is not easy. As we acquire collections from this region, we will set ourselves apart from other universities with these unique materials.
What has been your leadership style?
Early on in my career I applied appreciative inquiry to my work and relationships. It involves appreciating the best and looking at what could be. It isn’t avoiding problems but rather examining them and looking for a better way forward. One of my key leadership strengths is listening to foster collaboration and positive outcomes.
What have you enjoyed most about working at UC Merced?
I have most enjoyed working with our staff who are so dedicated. Working with students and faculty has been another highlight.
What do you hope to do during your retirement? What do you anticipate doing during your retirement?
I will be spending time in Seattle with my grandkids. My wife and I are planning to travel more both domestically and internationally. Europe is on the top of our list. I’ve had invitations from Chinese universities to speak and consult but for now I’m going to take a break.
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Reception Photos (May 28, 2026)
University Librarian Haipeng Li (left) visits with reception guests
Vice Provost for Academic Personnel, Tom Hansford delivers thank you remarks
University Librarian Haipeng Li listens to remarks
EVC & Provost Betsy Dumont (center) presents University Librarian Haipeng Li with campus gift
University Librarian Haipeng Li reflects on his career and thanks colleagues, faculty, friends, and family
University Librarian Haipeng Li with spouse Xiaoping
University Librarian Haipeng Li with Academic Senate Principle Analyst Simran Takhar
University Librarian Haipeng Li with UC Merced Lbrary staff members
