ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

ACRL honors the 2004 award winners: A recognition of professional achievement

by Megan Bielefeld

ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries winners announced

The winners of the 2004 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award are the Richland College Library, the Van Wylen Library at Hope College, and the University of Washington Libraries. Sponsored by ACRL and Blackwell’s Book Services, the award recognizes the staff of a college, university, and community college li- brary for programs that deliver exemplary ser- vices and resources to further the educational mission of the institu- tion.

“Receiving an Excel- lence in Academic Li- braries Award is a na- tional tribute to a library and its staff for the out- standing services, pro- grams, and leadership they provide to their students, administrators, fac- ulty, and community,” said Mary Ellen K. Davis, ACRL executive director.

Richland College Library

Richland College Library, winner of the community college category, was recognized for its outstanding information literacy program, and for the efforts of its staff to meet the diverse needs of individual library users.

“Located in Dallas County, Texas, Richland College Library has done a superb job of fulfilling Staff of the Richland College Library. its mission to ‘connect learners with knowledge.’ Library personnel working together demonstrate technological leadership, while emphasizing the needs of each individual library user, ” said Mary Reichel, chair of the 2004 Excellence in Aca- demic Libraries Selection Committee.

“The information literacy program is a model program with multifaceted components including an Information Literacy Certificate Program and a program geared to col- lege faculty, staff, and ad- ministrators,” said Reichel. “Richland College Library is truly outstanding.” “Supporting student success by connecting students with knowl- edge is the library’s mis- sion. To be affirmed in our efforts by this award is truly gratifying,” said Carole Johnson, library director at Richland College.

Hope College’s Van Wylen Library

Hope College’s Van Wylen Library, winner of the college category, emphasized the success of innovative library programs and their dedication to productively support both students and faculty.

“In support of Hope College’s commitment to excellence in learning and teaching, the Library is dedicated to being a vibrant center of intellectual and cultural life and playing a significant educational role,” said Mary Reichel. “The library’s ful- fillment of this commitment is seen in the exten- sive and innovative library instruction program, excellent collabo- ration with class- room faculty, and a staff dedicated to helping students become lifelong learners. Exem- plary programs in- clude innovative uses of sabbaticals for librarians, a dy- namic, team-based organization, and thoughtful Web site usability studies."

About the author

Megan Bielefeld is ACRL program coordinator, e-mail: mbielefeld@ala.org

Kirk named Academic/Research Librarian of the Year

Tom Kirk, library director and coordinator of information services at the Lilly Library of Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, is the 2004 ACRL Academic/Research Li- brarian of the Year. The award, sponsored by YBP Library Services, recognizes an out- standing member of the library profession who has made a significant national or inter- national contribution to academic/research librarian-ship and library development.

“Tom Kirk’s leadership and guidance in information literacy, both on his campus and nationally, has been transformative,” said award committee chair Su- san K. Nutter. “He has been a model for many aca- demic librarians in the area of information literacy, its role in higher education, and its importance in learn- ing outcomes. Tom’s gener- osity of time and spirit have earned him the apprecia- tion, respect, and admiration of many of his colleagues.”

“It is a terrific honor to be recognized by profes- sional colleagues for contri- butions in the field,” said Kirk. “I take this award as recognition of the value we place in mentoring, the role of academic libraries in teaching and learn- ing, and working collaboratively through professional associations. Winning such an award has given me pause to think of work- ing with colleagues over the past 35 years. I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had to work with others in the profession. I have learned much from them.”

Kirk has played a major role in promoting information literacy in academic and research libraries. His work on the ACRL Committee on Bibliographic Instruction (1971-77) was instrumental in creating the Instruction Section. He is a founding member of the ACRL Institute for Information Literacy, and was honored with the 1984 Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award. The Earlham College libraries received the 2001 Excellence in Academic Libraries

Tom Kirk, library director and coordinator of information services at Earlham College.

Award in the college category. He has lectured and written extensively on best practices in in- formation literacy.

Since 1970, he has served on more than 35 ALA and ACRL committees and was ACRL President (1993-94).

In addition to his work with ALA and ACRL, Kirk has raised the Lilly Library’s role at Earlham College to a new level by assem- bling a team of staff, from the library and both the Instructional Technology and Media (ITAM) and Computing Services departments, to design an information service orientation for new students. Earlham students now attend these sessions to learn about the campus information system, e-mail system, and the per- sonal space available on the college’s central servers.

His long history as a li- brary consultant reflects the high respect he has earned among academic librarians, higher education administra- tors, and officials. The Ken- tucky Library Association awarded Kirk the 1991 Aca- demic Librarian of the Year Award.

Kirk received his B.A. from Earlham College in 1965 and earned his M.A. from Indiana Uni- versity in 1969. His career at Earlham Col- lege spans 25 years, during which he has served as library director and coordinator of infor- mation services since 2001, as college librar- ian (1994-2001), and as a science librarian (1965-79). While working at Berea College, Kirk served as a college librarian (1980-94), associate professor of library science (1980- 88), and professor of library science (1988- 94). Prior to that, he was the acting librarian and learning center director at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (1979-80).

Kirk will receive a $3,000 award and a plaque at a ceremony and reception, Monday, June 28, 2004, at 4:30 p.m. during ALA Annual Conference in Orlando. The reception is sponsored by YBP Library Services.

Hope College's Van Wylen Library.

David Jensen, director of libraries at Hope Col- lege, said, “The Hope College library staff is thrilled to receive the 2004 ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award. They are proud of the service they provide and the teamwork they demonstrate, and pleased to have it recognized by ACRL.”

University of Washington Libraries

University of Washington (UW) Libraries, win- ner of the university category, demonstrated proven success at developing technological initia- tives and leading the academic community in the implementation of new programs and services.

“The University of Washington Libraries is a dynamic, impressive, and collaborative organiza- tion,” said Mary Reichel. “The university presi- dent summarized the libraries’ many contributions by stating that ‘meaningful inno- vation sets the UW Libraries apart.’ “The UW Li- braries have devel- oped exemplary programs, includ- ing innovative digital collections and services, infor- mation literacy for the whole campus, an assessment-centered culture, and creative staff development and training. UWired, one of the best known efforts, highlights the effectiveness of the libraries in working collaboratively with other

University of Washington's Suzzallo Library campus offices to promote and support effective uses of technology in teaching and learning. UW Libraries truly is leading the way for all academic libraries as the library of the 21st century.”

“This award goes to the superb librarians, staff, and student assistants who dedicate themselves to serving the mission of the University of Washington and connecting people with knowledge for life,” said Betsy Wilson, director of UW’s university libraries. “They have earned this award by what they do day in and day out. It’s a very proud day for the UW Libraries and a red letter day for the university. We’re dancing in the stacks!”

Each winning library will receive $3,000 and a plaque, to be presented at an award ceremony held on each recipient’s campus. The winners will also receive special recognition at the ACRL President’s Program during the ALA Annual Conference, Monday, June 28, 2004, at 1:30 p.m. in Orlando.

Jeng receives Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

Judy Jeng, a Ph.D. candidate from Rutgers University, has been awarded the 2004 ACRL Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship for her proposal, “Usability of Digital Library: An Evaluation Model.” Sponsored by Thomson Scientific, the fellowship fosters research in academic librarianship by encouraging and supporting dissertation research.

Kathryn Blackmer-Reyes, chair of the selection committee, said, “If Jeng can develop an evaluative model that makes it easier for many academic librarians to perform a usability study with high reliability, I think that will be a powerful tool for Web site assessment. From jeng’s proposal, the committee felt she would produce results that are likely to have the most practical application for the majority of college and university librarians and their libraries.”

The award of $1,500 and a plaque will be presented to Jeng during the ACRL President’s Program at the ALA Annual Conference, Monday, June 28, at 1:30 p.m.

Miller wins IS Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award

William Miller, director of libraries at Florida Atlantic University is the winner of the ACRL Instruction Section’s Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award. This award recognizes a librarian who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of instruction in a college or research library environment. The award also honors Miriam Dudley, whose pioneering efforts in the field of information literacy led to the formation of the ACRL Instruction Section.

William Miller

Dudley chair Trudi Jacobson wrote, “Dr. William Miller’s contributions to information literacy are wide ranging and have been sustained over time. He has made contributions to the institutional, state, and national levels, and he has initiated or enhanced academic instruction programs wherever he has worked.”

The award is sponsored by Elsevier Science on behalf of its journal Research Strategies. A check for $1,000 and a plaque will be presented to Miller during the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando at the IS Program on Sunday, June 27, at 1:30 p.m.

Snowhill honored with Marta Lange/CQ Award

Lucia Snowhill, head of the collection development department at the University of California- Santa Barbara, has been named the 2004 recipient of Marta lange/ Congressional Qutarterly (CQ) Award. The award, established in 1996 by the ACRL Law and Political Science Section (LPSS), honors an academic or law librarian who has made distinguished contributions to bibliography and information service in law or political science.

Graham R. Walden, chair of the Marta Lange Award Committee, said, “Lucia Snowhill has demonstrated over many years the kind of commitment to LPSS that has made her a standout. Lucia has been active in a number of committees and has been the editor of the section newsletter."

Snowhill received her B. A. from Occidental College in 1971 and her MLS from the University of Southern California in 1973.

Congressional Quarterly, Inc., sponsor of the award, will present the $1,000 award and plaque at the Marta Lange/CQ Luncheon at the ALA Annual Conference, Saturday, June 26, at 11:30 a.m.

Weisbard wins WSS Career Achievement Award

Phyllis Holman Weisbard

Phyllis Holman Weisbard, women’s studies librarian at the University of WisconsinMadison, has been selected as the 2004 winner of the ACRL Women’s studies Section (WSS) Ca- reer Achievement Award. The award, sponsored by Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc., honors sig- nificant long-standing contributions to women’s studies librarian-ship over the course of a career.

“The Women’s studies Section is honored to give this award to Phyllis Holman Weisbard,” Dolores Fidishun, chair of the WSS award com- mittee said. “Her lead- ership in the area of Women’s studies re- sources in technology, particularly through the University of Wisconsin

Women’s studies Librarian’s office Web site and its accompanying resources, along with her recognized contributions to the discipline of Women’s studies, both in and outside of li- braries, made her an obvious choice.”

A cash prize of $1,000 and a plaque will be presented to Weisbard at the WSS Program at the ALA Annual Conference, Monday, June 28, at 8:30 a.m.

WSS Significant Achievement Award goes to Roe

Donna Roe

Donna Roe, senior librarian and head of cata- loging and database management at the Uni- versity of Detroit Mercy, is the winner of the 2004 Women’s studies Section (WSS) Award for Significant Achieve- ment in Woman’s studies Librarianship. The award, sponsored by Routledge, honors a sig- nificant or one-time contribution to women’s studies librarianship.

“Donna Roe is an ex- ample for all Women’s studies librarians. She has brought Women’s studies into the fore- front of her institution, creating a Web site, advocating for budget funds for disciplinary resources, and supporting faculty in many ways. Her accomplishments give us all encourage- ment as we seek to be advocates for those we serve in Women’s studies Libraries,” said com- mittee chair Dolores Fidishun.

A cash prize of $1,000 and a plaque will be presented to Roe at the WSS Program at the ALA Annual Conference, Monday, June 28, at 8:30 a.m.

Baumann wins Coutts Nijhoff Study Grant

Helene S. Baumann

Helene S. Baumann, librarian for African and Western European studies at Duke University, has been selected to receive the 2004 Coutts Nijhoff International West European Special- ist Study Grant for her for her translation of the subject thesaurus of the Pictorial Archive of the Ger- man Colonial Society (Bildarchiv der Deutschen Kolonialgesellschaft) from German to English. This grant covers airfare to and from Europe, transportation in Europe, and lodging and board for up to 14 days. The primary criterion for awarding the grant is the significance and util- ity of the proposed project as a contribution to the study of the acquisition, organization, or use of library materials from or relating to Western Europe.

“Helene Baumann’s project is a top-drawer example of the unique and innovative ways that librarians, in this case area-studies librarians, contribute to research and scholarship around the world,” said committee chair Gordon Anderson. “Her work with the Frankfurt University Library and its German Colonial Society Archive will make more accessible to English-speaking scholars this extremely valuable source of documentation about an important period in African and European history.”

Baumann will receive her plaque and 4,500 Euros during the WESS meeting at the ALA Annual Conference, Monday, June 28, at 10:30 a.m.

Leab Exhibition Award winners named

There are five winners for the 2004 Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab American Book, Prices Current Exhibition Awards.

In Division One (expensive), the winner is Elizabeth I: Then and Now, by Georgiana Ziegler, compiler, and submitted by the Folger Shakespeare Library. ACRL’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) awards committee chair, Melissa Conway, said of the publication, “Beautifully designed in large format, with an excellent use of various pictorial resources, the well-informed and judiciously edited text would appeal both to the scholar and the student discovering Elizabeth for the first time. An excellent guide to the exhibition itself as well as a useful survey of the Folger’s holdings about Elizabeth I.”

The winner in Division Two (moderately expensive) is the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library of the University of Alberta Libraries for their piece entitled First Impressions: The Fledgling Years of the Black Sparrow press 1966-1970, by Michael O’Driscoll, et al. “A balanced and artful use of color illustrations, and well-chosen type and paper, all reflecting the design impulses seen in the work of the Black Sparrow Press itself,” said Conway. “The excellent text was produced by graduate students as part of a seminar under the direction of their professor in an admirable blending of curatorship and scholarship.”

In Division Three (inexpensive), the winner is the Auroral light: Photographs by Women from Grolier Club Member Collections, by Anne H. Hoy and Kimball Higgs, from the Grolier Club. Conway described the winning entry as, “Impeccable in its design, type and execution, with reproductions of very high quality. [It] provides an introduction both to a remarkable group of photographs, and the remarkable group of collectors who have assembled them.”

In Division Four (brochures), the Getty Research Institute’s brochure entitled Robert Motherwell: A la pintura/To Painting is the winner. Conway commented, ‘Visually arresting design in bold colors and format, it unfolds to lead the viewer through the exhibition and makes a handsome keepsake. Accompanied by an excellent essay and checklist, this brochure exemplifies the best use of both limited space and resources.”

The winner in Division Five (electronic exhibition) is the Bancroft Library of the University of California for the California Grizzly at the Bancroft Library. “An interesting topic, displaying a creativity and continuity of design. High-quality images were well-chosen and displayed, with derivative images for closer inspection presented uniformly,” said Conway. “Essential ease of navigation, successful adoption of several state-of- the art coding techniques, and an admirable dedication to making the site accessible to disabled viewers.”

Certificates will be presented to each winner during the RBMS Program at the ALA Annual Conference, Sunday, June 27 at 1:30 p.m. ■