The American Library Association honors Camila Alire with Equality Award

For Immediate Release
Tue, 04/28/2015

Contact:

Cheryl Malden

Program Officer

Governance

312-280-3247

cmalden@ala.org

CHICAGO — ALA past-President Camila Alire is the 2015 recipient of the American Library Association Equality Award. The annual award, $1,000 and a framed citation of achievement donated by Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, is given to an individual or group for outstanding contributions toward promoting equality in the library profession.

Dr. Alire's unwavering commitment to equal opportunity has had profound impact," said Jury Chair Pat Schuman. "She has been--and continues to be--a role model, mentor, and advocate for policies and practices that promote inclusion and equity as a core value of the library profession."

The jury noted that throughout her career, Dr. Alire has encouraged and inspired librarians and library staff to join in the struggle for equality. Her leadership roles in ALA, ACRL, Reforma and myriad other library organizations have been models for promoting gender and racial equality. Her ALA presidency focused on inclusion for all segments of the profession, enhancing the Spectrum initiative, and advocacy for all library staff. Her books, articles, courses and presentations have promoted diversity throughout the world.

Dr. Alire’s award will be presented at the ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco on June 28, 2015. 

Members of the 2015 Equality Award Jury are: Chair Patricia Glass Schuman, past-president, ALA  and Neal-Schuman Publishers (retired), New York; Eva Davis, director, Canton Public Library, Canton, Michigan; Karen Downing, head, Social Sciences, University Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Charles E. Kratz, Dean of Libraries, University of Scranton, Pennsylvania; and Betty J. Turock, past-president, ALA, Professor and dean emerita, Rutgers University School of Communication and Information Department of Library and Information Science, Highland Park, New Jersey.

More information about the Equality Award, including how to submit a nomination is available on the ALA website.