Ayla Kenfield

Ayla Kenfield is an Associate Professor and University Library Repository Services Librarian at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her work focuses on institutional repositories, digital libraries, and metadata standards. She contributes to the development of repository systems, user experience design, and frameworks for assessing content reuse in digital environments. Key areas of expertise include digital object management, metadata quality, and the political dimensions of library services.

Her research addresses challenges in repository modernization, user-centric design for next-generation systems, and the implementation of sustainable workflows. She has led projects such as the 'Measuring Reuse' initiative, which explores how digital objects are utilized across institutions. Notable collaborations include work on the IDEALS repository migration and the Illinois Data Bank metadata framework.

• Awards: Emerald Literati Award - Outstanding Paper (2023)
• Datasets: ARL IR Metadata Documentation, US Books Transcription, and others highlight her focus on metadata practices and institutional repository infrastructure.
• Grants/Projects: IMLS-funded projects on digital object reuse, ALCTS metadata initiatives, and university-led data bank development efforts.

Her work intersects with broader trends in open access, scholarly communication, and the evolving role of libraries in digital preservation. Ongoing contributions include advancing repository interfaces, refining assessment methodologies, and advocating for inclusive metadata practices.