'Mammals of Africa' named RUSA's Dartmouth Medal winner for distinguished reference publication; also named two honorable mentions

For Immediate Release
Sun, 01/26/2014

Contact:

Leighann Wood

Membership and Awards Coordinator

Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

lwood@ala.org

PHILADELPHIA – The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) has announced "Mammals of Africa" as the 2014 Dartmouth Medal award winner. The Dartmouth Medal, established in 1974, honors the creation of a reference source of outstanding quality and significance. The award is given to the best new reference source published in 2013.

"Mammals of Africa" was edited by Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Mike Hoffmann, Tom Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina. This amazing source is the result of 15 years of detailed work. Covering every recognized mammalian species in Africa, it will serve as a rich source of information and as a baseline for preserving the biodiversity of this great continent. The illustrations, maps, charts and material are all outstanding. This work will be consulted by students and scholars for many years.

The Dartmouth Medal Committee is pleased to announce an Honorable Mention for the International Encyclopedia of Ethics, edited by Hugh LaFollette and published by Wiley-Blackwell. This comprehensive and interdisciplinary encyclopedia presents both ethical theory and practice in a scholarly yet approachable manner. This will be a welcome addition to electronic or print reference collections in libraries of all sizes.

The Dartmouth Medal Committee is also pleased to announce an Honorable Mention for the Encyclopedia of Caribbean Religions by Patrick Taylor, Frederick Chase, Sean Meighoo and Joyce Leung. It is published by the University of Illinois Press. This well researched title will fill a gap in current reference coverage. It will support interdisciplinary scholarship in the anthropology, sociology, history literature and religion of the Caribbean. We are proud to recognize this significant new reference work.

The winners were selected by the RUSA Codes Dartmouth Medal Committee. The members are: Jack O’Gorman, University of Dayton, chair, Drew Aflgren, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Christina McGowan, Fairfield University, Patricia Gregory, Saint Louis University, Angela Courtney, Indiana University, Nicolette Sosulski, Portage District Library in Portage Mich., Lise Snyder, UCLA, Teresa Omidsalar, California State University Los Angeles, Sarah Watstein, University of North Carolina Wilmington, David Tyckoson, California State Fresno, Janet Pinkley, California State Channel Islands.

The Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Not a member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, preconference and other events? Join, renew or add RUSA to your ALA membership at www.ala.rog/membership. Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa.