ACRL College & Research Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

Letters

More kudos for Ralph Russell

To the Editor:

No one was more delighted than I to hear that Ralph Russell has been named the 1996 ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year (April 1996). I was disappointed, however, that C&RL News did not include in its article on Dr. Russell the main reason I think he deserves recognition.

In my seven-year association with him, Dr. Russell has been a trailblazer in what I think is one of the most important issues facing libraries today. He has always treated the support staff in his employ with the respect and dignity they deserve. In short, he treats them as the professionals they are. Thanks largely to Dr. Russell, support staff are fully involved in self-governance, library governance, and standing committees. I myself served as the chair of a committee, elected by both staff and faculty within the committee.

Dr. Russell also endeavors whenever possible to involve support staff in conferences and meetings outside of our library, giving us a chance to meet and develop professional relationships with library employees from all over the United States. The relationships between library faculty and staff at Georgia State are collegial, not adversarial. Dr. Russell’s library is a wonderful place to work, and I am proud to know him.—Wendy S. Wilmoth, Mobile, Alabama (formerly assistant bead of access services, Georgia State University)

Ed. note:C&RL News welcomes your signed, typed comments on recent content in our pages or on matters of general interest to the academic or research library profession. Letters may be edited for space constraints. Send your letters to: The Editor, C&RL News, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611-2795: fax: (312) 280-2520; e-mail: medavis@ala.org. ■