IRRT Notable Member

Donna Scheeder

IFLA President, 2015-2017

Library of Congress: Director of Congressional Research Service (CRS), Director of Law Library Services, retiring in 2015 as Deputy Chief Information Officer of CRS.

IRRT member since: 2011

Donna Scheeder was one of the most visionary members of the American Library Association’s International Relations Round Table (IRRT). As such, it is our pleasure to offer Donna Scheeder a Notable Members award for her IRRT membership and service to the organization.

Donna, a lifelong library-lover and long-time ALA member, dedicated her life to making libraries better and improving life for librarians. As a global leader, she was passionate about connecting libraries to their communities and encouraging librarians to be agents of change in this new information age. Donna built the IRRT’s theme for the 2019 ALA Annual Conference and united our discussions around the topic “Transforming Community Relationships,” which invited librarians from all nations to discuss how libraries should strengthen communities.

Throughout her years of participation in the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) and her presidency from 2015 to 2017, she upheld the IRRT’s vision to encourage collaboration between international librarians. She helped to further the IFLA's resources by helping the organization obtain a major grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Legacy Grant in 2016. Through her extensive travels and global conference attendance, she supported library issues, improved library services, and built stronger global communities. It is because of her contributions that libraries are included in the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Her talent continues to be recognized by the IFLA as the organization celebrates her as an honorary member.