KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Great Bend native Bonnie Postlethwaite has been appointed as Dean of University Libraries at University of Missouri - Kansas City for a two-year term, effective July 1. As the current associate dean of libraries with a long history of administrative service and an extensive knowledge of UMKC and its complex libraries’ system, Postlethwaite is particularly well suited for this appointment, said Gail Hackett, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.Since coming to UMKC in 2006, Postlethwaite has provided leadership, strategic direction and administrative oversight for University Libraries operations, including the Miller Nichols Library, which houses the LaBudde Special Collections and Marr Sound Archives and the Music Media Library, the Health Sciences Library (Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy) and the Dental Library.Among her accomplishments as Associate Dean, Postlethwaite has led the development of the University Libraries strategic plan and its implementation. She has worked with the dean of libraries and library directors to create and manage the annual budget and has provided leadership to divisional directors for operation management and planning.