Library head under inquiry, resigns

Penn's director of libraries is currently under investigation in a case involving child pornography by the Philadelphia Police Department's Special Victims Unit.

Vice Provost and Director of Libraries Paul Mosher allegedly downloaded more than 2,000 images of child pornography over the Internet and paid for them with his credit card, according to an unnamed law enforcement official, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Mosher resigned from his current position at the University yesterday.

The Special Victims Unit investigates cases involving sexual assault and child abuse.

The Daily Pennsylvanian first reported on Wednesday that Mosher's computer had been confiscated from his Van Pelt Library office on Friday morning, according to library system staff members. University spokeswoman Lori Doyle confirmed at the time that Mosher was the subject of an investigation by Philadelphia Police.

"There is an active investigation at the University of Pennsylvania into child pornography," said Sgt. Roland Lee of the Public Affairs Department of the Philadelphia Police, adding that no arrest has been made at this time.

The Special Victims Unit confirmed that Mosher is currently under investigation.

"There's an active investigation going," Sgt. Patrick Ghegan said. "We just can't say anything until it's over."

Ghegan added that the investigation could possibly end as early as next week.

Possession of child pornography is a felony, which carries a sentence of three to seven years in jail.

Doyle confirmed yesterday that Mosher had resigned from his post. On Monday, he had been placed on administrative leave.

"As we've said all along, we're aware that there's an active police investigation underway," Doyle said.

Library administrators were informed of Mosher's resignation yesterday morning by the Office of the Provost, according to Adam Corson-Finnerty, director of development and external affairs of the library system.

"Any news about a colleague and someone who's been a leader at the library, can be upsetting," Corson-Finnerty said.

"Paul Mosher has been a leader at the Penn library now for over 12 years," he added.

Carton Rogers, who is currently serving as the University's acting director of collection development and management and as director of technical services of the Information Processing Center, has been indefinitely named interim vice provost and director of libraries in Mosher's absence.

Rogers could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Despite the police investigation and Mosher's resignation, Corson-Finnerty said the library would continue to operate as normal.

"The library has 300 staff [members], and it has a senior management group of nine people. It's very much a team effort," he said. "The library is moving full steam ahead."

Mosher did not return phone calls to his home last night for comment and would not comment when reached at home Tuesday night.

Mosher began working at the University in 1988 after holding several positions at the Stanford University Library, including deputy director, director for research and director for collections development. He has also served as an adjunct professor in the History Department at Penn.

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