Concluding a year-long search, the University has appointed Stephen C. Hall director of the Office of Information Technology (OIT).

Hall, who will take over on July 1, will manage Harvard's central information services programs and departments that sell and lease computers, photocopiers, and telecommunications equipment.

He is currently a manager of the Nolan, Norton and Company international information technology consulting firm based in Lexington, Mass.

He also will consult with senior members of the individual faculties, advising them on how best to use technology with managers, researchers, teachers, students, and staff.

Harvard is also currently in the midst of a large-scale updating of its computer facilities and Hall is expected to play a major role in carrying out the modernizations scheduled for the next few years, officials said.

Since the resignation of Howard L. Resnikoff last summer, OIT has been manager by its three associate directors. Resnikoff resigned in take over as head of the Thinking Machines Company in Waltham but there were also reports at the time that he was asked to step down.

Hall comes to Harvard with 20 years of experience in a "rapidly growing field that is of vital importance to the University," said Robert Scott, vice president for administration. Scott added that Hall's training covers a wide range of information techaology areas including finances, networking, engineering, research, and instruction.

Hall will supervise a staff of about 175 at locations throughout the University, including the Holyoke Center equipment management and word processing offices, the Cruft Laboratory video services, and the Mount Auburn St. computer store and telephone offices.

Prior to joining his present firm, he worked for IBM for 12 years.

He received his B.S. in mathematics from Tufts University in 1966.