ALA - LHRT NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

The 2005 Slate of Candidates: Biographical Statements

Introduction

This year (once again), there were some problems with the ALA online ballot information system, so the LHRT Nominations Committee decided to post the biographical statements, accomplishments, and statements of concern for each of the candidates online. They are as follow, as submitted by the candidates.

1. Candidates for chair-elect (Wertheimer and Willett)

WERTHEIMER, ANDREW B.
*Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison. School of Library & Information Studies, Ph.D., 2003; Indiana University, Bloomington. School of Library & Information Science, MLS, 1995; University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, B.A., 1993.
*Current Position: Assistant Professor, Library & Information Science Program, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2003-present.
*Previous Positions: Part-time Adjunct Professor, San Jose State University. School of Library and Information Science, 2003-03; LA II , Lincoln (NE) City Libraries, 2002-03; Development and Public Relations Librarian and Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska - Lincoln. University Libraries, 1999-2001; Librarian, Woodman Astronomical Library, University of Wisconsin, 1997-99; Public Services Librarian; Head of Acquisitions (Chicago Jewish Archives), Asher Library, Spertus Institute Of Jewish Studies, Chicago, 1996-97.
*ALA Activities: University of Hawaii Student Chapter: Faculty Advisor, , 2003-Present; LHRT: Committee Member, Auction Committee, 2001-Present; LHRT: Secretary Treasurer, , 2002-03; Cognotes: Reporter, , 1995-2001; LHRT: Committee Member, Fiftieth Anniversary Program Committee, 1997-99; ALA Program, Policy & Budget: , 2001; Indiana University Student Chapter: Chair, , 1995.
*State and Regional Library Association Activities: Beta Phi Mu: Faculty Advisor, University of Hawaii Chapter, 2004-Present; Friends of Manoa Public Library: Secretary, 2004-Present; Association of Hawaii Archivists: Vice President, 2004-05; Nebraska Library Association: Chair, New Members Round Table, 2001-02; Association for Library & Information Science Education: Convener, Historical Perspectives SIG, 2001-02; Association of Jewish Libraries: Distance Learning Liaison, Library Education Committee Member, 1997-98.
*Membership in Other Professional and Related Organizations: Hawaii Library Association, 2003-Present; Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing, 1998-Present; History of Education Society, 2000-03; Groupe de recherche sur l'edition litteraire au Quebec, 2000-03; Organization of American Historians, 1998-2003.
*Publications: "Libraries," Encyclopedia of the Great Plains (University of Nebraska Press), 2004; "Admitting Nebraska's Nisei: Japanese American Students at the University of Nebraska, 1942-1945," Nebraska History (Nebraska State Historical Society), 2003; Co-author, "Print Culture and the Holocaust: A Bibliographical Survey," The Holocaust and the Book: Destruction and Preservation (University of Massachusetts Press; Edizioni Sylvestre Bonnard), 2001; 2003; Research Coordinator, Public Libraries and the Internet: Findings of the 2000 Nebraska Survey (Kyoto University Library & Information Science Study Group), 2001; Co-editor, Library History Research in America: Essays Commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the American Library Association - Library History Round Table  (Library of Congress Center for the Book), 2000; "Lydenberg, Harry M; Oko, Adolph S," American National Biography (Oxford University Press), 1999; Co-author, "Surveying the Role of Ethnic-American Library Associations," Library Trends (University of Illinois GSLIS), 1997.
*Accomplishments: Library historians have been most generous in mentoring me since I joined the LHRT ten years ago as an MLS student. I've tried in many ways to repay that debit with service to LHRT. I served on the Executive Board as Secretary-Treasurer (a 3-year commitment), and attended many Executive Board meetings since 1995. I assisted the Nominations, Auction, and Program committees. Two years ago I revised our recruitment pamphlet. I also planned our 50th anniversary program in Washington DC. Donald G. Davis and I co-edited "Library History Research in America: Essays Commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the ALA-LHRT" as a critical celebration of our anniversary. On both projects, I worked with colleagues in Europe and Asia to build our international ties. I also moderated ALISE's Historical Research SIG, and hope to continue fostering our partnerships with practitioners and LIS educators in North America and beyond. 
*Statement of Concern: I'm committed to an inclusive vision of library history that values diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity, and research approach. I want to build on recent leaders who strengthened LHRT's awards and annual programs. We have much to be proud of, but must continue looking ahead. For example, we need to recruit new library historians, and fund our speaker endowment. I also want to improve ties with LIS historians internationally and historians at large. I strongly believe LHRT needs to promote arenas within our profession for readable, intellectually stimulating historical research. We also should booster the historical approach in professional education. If elected, my first step towards that goal would be add a page to the LHRT website with links to LIS faculty offering library history and related courses. Working together, using such affordable approaches, we can secure a strong future for library history and the LHRT.

WILLETT, HOLLY G.
*Education: University of North Texas, Teacher certification, 1996; University of North Carolina, Ph.D., 1986; Simmons College, M.A. in Children's Literature, 1981; University of California, Berkeley, M.L.S., 1972; San Francisco State College, B.A., Humanities & Spanish, 1971.
*Current Position: Associate Professor, Rowan University, 1997-present.
*Previous Positions: Assistant/Associate Professor, program coordinator, 1997-present; department chair, 2002-present, Rowan University, Department of Secondary Education/Foundations of Education, & Program in School and Public Librarianship, 1997-Present; School media specialist, Dallas Public Schools, 1993-97; Assistant Visiting Professor, Texas Woman's University, 1992-93; Instructor/Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1985-92; Coordinator of Children's Services, New Bedford Free Public Library, 1980-81; Librarian I/II, Alameda County Free Public Library, 1972-78.
*ALA Activities: AASL: NCATE folio reviewer, 1998-present.   ALSC:  Caldecott Committee, 1982; Research and Development Committee, 1983-87; Editor, "Research Forum" column, Top of the News, 1986-87; Delegate, Citizen Ambassador Program delegation to South Africa, 1996.  LHRT: Nominating Committee, 1990; Board member at large, 1997-98; Secretary Treasurer, 1999-2001.
*State and Regional Library Association Activities: Educational Media Association of New Jersey:  Ad Hoc Committee on Certification, 1998-present.  Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California:  Book Review Committee, 1974-78, Chair of Book Review Committee, 1976-77; Member-at-Large of Council, 1977-78.
*Membership in Other Professional and Related Organizations: ALISE, 1985-present; American Folklore Society, 1988-present; Midwest History of Education Society, 2003-present.
*Publications (selected): "We build together: Charlemae Rollins and African American children's literature," American Educational History Journal, 31 (2004): 51-57. "Gaver, Mary Virginia" in D. G. Davis, Jr. (Ed.), Second supplement to the dictionary of American library biography, (pp. 107-110), Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited (2002). "Not one or the other but both: Hybrid course delivery over WebCT," The Electronic Library, 20 (2002): 413-419. "Rifles for Watie: Rollins, Riley, and racism," Libraries & Culture, 36 (2001): 487-505. Public library youth services: A public policy approach. Norwood, NJ: Ablex (1995). "Charlemae Hill Rollins" in Supplement to the Dictionary of American Library Biography (pp. 111-115), Wayne Wiegand (Ed.), Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited (1990).
*Honors, Awards, Prizes, Medals, Citations: Who's who among America's teachers 2004 & 2005; Jane Anne Hannigan Research Award, Association of Library and Information Science Educators (first recipient). Bush Foundation Fellowship, Univ. of No. Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1982-1984.  Kalp Fellowship, University of No. Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1981-82. BA awarded magna cum laude
*Accomplishments: At Rowan, I revised the entire curriculum in school and public librarianship (including the addition of a course in foundations) and wrote the folio leading to AASL recognition within the College of Education's NCATE accreditation.
*Statement of Concern: Recently, LHRT has successfully created conference programs, raised funds, presented awards, and updated its handbook, thanks to the work of committee chairs and the membership. The current priorities of communication and visibility are working well for LHRT. However, as a relatively small group, we run the risk of "burn out" among our most active members.  I would like to see us develop our current efforts in membership growth and involvement, including attracting more interest among master's and doctoral student and more interest from a wider range of practicing librarians in "doing history". Some of the state library associations have history roundtables with whose membership we might share a number of interests, for instance. 

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2. Candidates for secretary/treasurer-elect (Greenberg and Sutton)

GREENBERG, GERALD S.
*Education: Kent State University, M.L.S., 1985; Fordham University, M.A.T., 1968; Hunter College, B.A., 1967.
*Current Position: Head, Reference, EHS Library, Ohio State University, 2004-present.
*Previous Positions: Head, Reference EHS Library, Ohio State University, 2004-Present; Reference/B.I. Librarian, EHS Library, Ohio State University, 1996-2004; Reference/B.I. Librarian, Undergraduate Library, Ohio State University, 1987-96; Teacher, Columbus (OH) Public Schools, 1971-84; Teacher, New York City Schools, 1968-71.
*ALA Activities: LHRT: co-editor, newsletter, , 1998-2000; RUSA: press award committee, , 1998-99. State and Regional Library Association Activities: Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO): chair, hospitality committee, concurrent conference: ALAO/OLA/OELMA, 1993-94; Columbus Federation of Teachers: treasurer, vice president, editor of newsletter, 1971-81.
*Membership in Other Professional and Related Organizations: AAUP, 1987-Present; Columbus Federation of Teachers, AFT/AFL-CIO, 1971-83; United Federation of Teachers, AFT/AFL-CIO, 1970-71.
*Publications: "Books as Disease Carriers: 1880-1920," Libraries & Culture, Summer,1988; Poststructuralism and Communication: an annotated bibliography (Scarecrow Press), in production, 2005; "On the Roof of the Library Nearest You: America's Open-Air Libraries, 1905-1944," Libraries to the People: Histories of Outreach (McFarland), 2003; Editor, Author, Historical Encyclopedia of U.S. Independent Counsel Investigations (Greenwood), 2000; "Caleb Emerson: Nineteenth Century Newspaper Publisher of Marietta, Ohio," Publishing History, 1998 (v.43); Tabloid Journalism: An Annotated Bibliography of English-Language Sources (Greenwood), 1996; "Beman Gates and the Marietta Intelligencer, 1839-1856," Publishing History, 1995 (v.38); "Ohioans vs. Georgians: The Galphin Claim, Zachary Taylor's Death, and the Congressional Adjournment Vote of 1850," Georgia Historical Quarterly, 1990 (v.74no.4); "Isaac N. Whiting: Pioneer Bookseller and Publisher of Columbus, Ohio," Publishing History, 1990 (v.28).
*Honors, Awards, Prizes, Medals, Citations: invitation for inclusion in Gale's Something About the Author, 2004; invitation for inclusion in Writer's Digest, 2004; inclusion in Scarecrow Press's volume, Best Library Literature, 1988.
*Accomplishments: Administered large freshman library instruction program at Ohio State University, 1987-2003; participated in conversion of freshman library instruction program to WebCT (TELR-grant supported "Making the Leap" project, 2004); participated in merger of education, human ecology, social work and undergraduate libraries, 1996; participating in creation of new humanities, social science library, 2004-present (ongoing).
*Statement of Concern: I am concerned about the future of reference service, and the role that library instruction will play in the libraries of the future. With wide remote accessibility of online databases, the common belief that Google can provide most of what researchers need, the advent of Google Scholar, the role of the reference librarian/librarian teacher is called into question. I am also concerned about the role of librarians in academia. Have librarians succeeded in defining their status, their profession, their discipline in order to secure themselves a place in the academy?

SUTTON, ALLISON M.
*Education: Louisiana State University, M.L.I.S., 2001; Spelman College, Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, 1984.
*Current Position: Psychology & Social Work Subject Specialist, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001-present.
*Previous Positions: Psychology & Social Work Subject Specialist, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001-Present.
*ALA Activities: ALA member, 2000-present; Human Resources Development and Recruitment Advisory Committee (2001 - 2005); Spectrum Scholarship Jury (2004-2005); Drewes, Hornbeck and Liesner Staff Support Scholarship Committee (2003-2004); Davis Award Committee, Library History Roundtable (2003-2004). Association of College and Research Libraries (member, 2000-present): Education and Behavioral Sciences Section; EBSS Program Planning Committee, 2004 ALA Orlando Conference (2002-2004); Psychology Subcommittee (member, 2001-present and current Chair-Elect); Social Work Subcommittee (member, 2002-present); African American Studies Section (2002-present). Reference and User Services Association (member,2000-present): Collection Development & Evaluation Section (member, 2004 - present).
*State and Regional Library Association Activities: Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network: Volunteer, Mid-America Transplant Services, 2005-Present; Girl Scouts of America: Volunteer, 1995-2000.
*Membership in Other Professional and Related Organizations: Black Caucus of the American Library Association (member 2000-present): Recruitment & Professional Development Committee (Co-Chair 2004-2005); History Committee, Black Caucus of the American Library Association (2004-present). Association for the Study of African American Life and History (member, 2004-present).
*Publications: Author, "From Library School to Career In Three Easy Steps," Versed: Bulletin of the Office of Diversity (American Library Association), May, 2004; Book Chapter Author, "Death and Dying," Magazines for Libraries, 12th Edition (R. R. Bowker, LLC), December, 2003; Author, "Bridging the Gap in Library Education History for African Americans: The Negro Teacher-Librarian Program (1936-1939)," The Journal of Negro Education (The Journal of Negro Education), (Accepted with plans to publish in 2005).
*Honors, Awards, Prizes, Medals, Citations: Beta Phi Mu International Library and Information Studies Honor Society, Beta Zeta Chapter, Louisiana State University, February, 2002; Library School Student Scholarship for Conference Travel, Association of College & Research Libraries, 2000; Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce Scholarship Award, Association of Research Libraries, 2000; Spectrum Scholar, American Library Association, 2000.
*Accomplishments: Joined the Library Faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in August of 2001.  Serves as a subject specialist in the Education & Social Science Library with primary responsibility for an extensive collection, which supports the teaching and research activities of two nationally ranked constituencies, the Department of Psychology and the School of Social Work.  In addition, scholarly documentation that increases the knowledge of historical contributions and initiatives of and for African Americans in the LIS field is the centerpiece of my research agenda.
*Statement of Concern: As a librarian and scholar I have affinity for education that is nurtured by an array of distinctly different responsibilities.  It is, however, my passion for historical research that is the driving force as I envision my future in librarianship.  I clearly see how historical research and documentation (and all those involved in the work) are perfectly positioned to offer vast contributions in the ever-changing library world.   As libraries continue to evolve, especially digitally, it is inevitable that the historical research and documentation will be affirmed as the primary distinguishing factor for all libraries.  I embrace the challenge to contribute and lead educators, administrators and librarians in decisions related to the production and preservation of history.  Serving as the Secretary-Treasurer for the Library History Roundtable will allow me to continue to grow and contribute in ways that are both professionally and personally fulfilling.
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3. Candidates for member-at-large (Barbosa-Jerez and Lear)

BARBOSA-JEREZ, MARY E.
*Education: University of Kentucky, School of Library and Information Science, M.A. (which means I wrote a thesis in addition to coursework for the M.L.S.) LIS 2004; University of Louisville, M.A. Critical Literary Theory & Creative Writing, 1997; Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN, B.A. Literature / History, 1988.
*Current Position: Humanities Reference Librarian, Ekstrom Library for the Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Louisville, 2000 to the present.
*Previous Positions: Adjunct Professor of English, University of Louisville and Bellarmine University (Louisville, KY), and Adjunct Professor of Composition and Consultant to the graduate writing program, Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky), 1997 to 2000. Freelance writer and editor (Louisville, Kentucky and South Bend, Indiana), 1994 to 1997. Director of Public Relations & Fund-raising, Center City Associates (a National Trust for Historic Preservation affiliate agency), (South Bend, IN), 1992 to 1994. Public Relations Coordinator, Family & Children's Center Foundation (South Bend, IN), 1990-1992. Assistant to the Editor, Notre Dame Magazine, and Assistant to the Director of Black Alumni, University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN), 1988-1990.
*ALA Activities: ACRL member(2004-present), ACRL Anthropology and Sociology Section Member (2004-present), New Members Roundtable member (2004-present), Social Responsibilities Roundtable member (2004-present), Libraries History Round Table member (2004-present), Choice reviewer (2004-present).
*State and Regional Library Association Activities: Kentucky Libraries Association Member (2002-present), Kentucky Chapter SLA member and bulletin editor (2004-present).
*Membership in other professional and related organizations: Kentucky Equador Partners (2004). Modern Language Association member (1996-2001).
*Conference Presentations and Publications: "What Helps & What Hinders: Real students talk about the 50-minute college library session." LOEX 2005 conference presentation. "Gleanings from the 7th international Symposium on Electronic Theses and Dissertations." Library High-Tech News 21(8) (2004), 10-12. "INFOrmal-INFOrums: The development and implementation of a collaborative model for faculty workshops & seminars." LOEX 2002 conference presentation. "Nurturing Junior Scholars: A new model for the integration of information literacy between departmental and library faculty." Presentation at the 2001 Kentucky Conference on Building a Scholarly Structure for Teaching and Learning."Astonishing Identity: The creation of feminine self-perception in Lyn Hejinian's My Life." 1999 Twentieth Century Literature Conference presentation. "Tidal Discourse: An Intergenerational Reading of Virginia Woolf's The Waves." 1998 Twentieth Century Literature Conference presentation.
*Honors, Awards, Prizes, Medals, Citations: Chosen by students from among UofL as a faculty member whose actions contributed to retention at the university (2004), and asked to lead orientation sessions for incoming students.
*Accomplishments: Administered the Library Liaison program for the University of Louisville Libraries during my first year as a full member of the UofL faculty, teach the second largest number of information literacy courses in the university, participated in the preparation of hosting the LOEX conference (2004-2005).
*Statement of Concern: As a librarian, I'm constantly expanding my interests to include those of the faculty and students whose work I support. But as an undergraduate, my first love was history and throughout my educational experience I've maintained a link to the historical documentation and study. I'm drawn now to the history of my current profession, and to ensuring the survival of that history especially in this era of rapid change in libraries, both technologically and in their social impact. The opportunity to serve as an at-large committee member of LHRT will give me the opportunity to play an active role in the preservation of our history, even though I am rather new to the profession, which is not only important in a larger sense to our professional and larger culture, but to me personally as well.

LEAR, BERNADETTE A.
*Education: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, MLS, 1999; The George Washington University, BA, History, 1997.
*Current Position: Behavioral Science and Education Librarian, Penn State Harrisburg Library, 2004-present.
*Previous Positions: Librarian 1, Social Science and History Department, Enoch Pratt Free Library, 2001-04; Manuscripts Librarian, Special Collections, Gelman Library, The George Washington University, 1999-2001; Librarian Trainee (PT), New Brunswick (NJ) Free Public Library, 1998-99; Reference Assistant (PT), Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries, 1997-99; Summer Intern (PT), Margaret Sanger Papers Project, New York University, 1998-98; Archives Technician GS-4 (PT), National Archives and Records Administration, 1996-97.
*State and Regional Library Association Activities: Associated College Libraries of Central Pennsylvania: Member, Nominating Committee, 2004-Present; Maryland Library Association: Member and Archivist, Public Services Division Executive Committee, 2002-04.
*Membership in Other Professional and Related Organizations: Pennsylvania Library Association, 2004-Present.
*Publications: Reviewer, ARBAonline (Libraries Unlimited), 2004.
*Honors, Awards, Prizes, Medals, Citations: Employee of the Month, Enoch Pratt Free Library, March 2004; Valedictorian, Columbian School of Arts and Sciences, The George Washington University, 1997.
*Accomplishments: No major publications yet. Will be presenting a paper on the history and uses of public library annual reports at LHRT's "Untapped Treasures" Research Forum in June 2005.
*Statement of Concern: As a rule, American Libraries are on the cutting edge technologically. But awareness of the history of libraries should also shape our approach and discourse. Over hundreds of years, we have accumulated valuable experience of "what works" and "doesn't work" when bringing knowledge and people together. This story is important for professional decision-making. It is also a vital chapter in the development of American culture, society, and democracy. As Member-at-Large in LHRT, I will work strenuously to promote historical studies among colleagues, the history of libraries among scholars in other fields, and the ongoing value of libraries to the general public. In the next 15 years, hundreds of American libraries will be celebrating 100th anniversaries. The profession has a great opportunity to highlight libraries in their historical context, and renew the case that we are vital to an informed and content public. I will help it happen!

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For more information on the ALA-LHRT nominations committee, see the nominations page.

>>posted 10 February 2005<<