For immediate release | April 3, 2017

Timothy Cole Wins 2017 LITA/OCLC Kilgour Research Award

Picture of Timothy Cole
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LITA logo
Picture of Timothy Cole
OCLC logo
LITA logo

Timothy Cole, Head of the Mathematics Library and Professor of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been selected as the recipient of the 2017 Frederick G. Kilgour Award for Research in Library and Information Technology, sponsored by OCLC and the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA). Professor Cole also holds appointments in the Center for Informatics Research in Science and Scholarship (CIRSS) and the University Library.

The Kilgour Award is given for research relevant to the development of information technologies, especially work which shows promise of having a positive and substantive impact on any aspect(s) of the publication, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information, or the processes by which information and data is manipulated and managed. The winner receives $2,000, a citation, and travel expenses to attend the LITA Awards Ceremony & President's Program at the 2017 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago (IL).

Over the past 20 years, Professor Cole’s research in digital libraries, metadata design and sharing, and interoperable linked data frameworks have significantly enhanced discovery and access of scholarly content which embodies the spirit of this prestigious Award. His extensive publication record includes research papers, books, and conference publications and has earned more than $11 million in research grants during his career.
The Award Committee also noted Professor Cole’s significant contributions to major professional organizations including the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Digital Library Federation, and Open Archives Initiative, all of which help set the standards in metadata and linked data practices that influence everyday processes in libraries. We believe his continuing work on Linked Open Data will further improve how information is discovered and accessed. With all of Professor Cole’s research and service contributions, the Committee unanimously found him to be the ideal candidate to receive the 2017 Frederick G. Kilgour Award.
When notified he had been selected, Professor Cole said, "I am honored and very pleased to accept this Award. Fred Kilgour's recognition more than 50 years ago of the ways that computers and computer networks could improve both library services and workflow efficiencies was remarkably prescient, and his longevity and consistent success in this dynamic field was truly amazing. Many talented librarians have built on his legacy, and over the course of my career, I have found the opportunity to meet, learn from, and work with many of these individuals, including several prior Kilgour awardees, truly rewarding. I have been especially fortunate in my opportunities and colleagues at Illinois -- notably (to name but three) Bill Mischo, Myung-Ja Han, and Muriel Foulonneau -- as well as in my collaborations with other colleagues across the globe. It is these collaborations that account in large measure for the modest successes I have enjoyed. I am humbled by and most appreciative of the Award Committee for giving me this opportunity to join the ranks of Kilgour awardees."
Members of the 2017 Kilgour Award Committee are: Tabatha Farney (Chair), Ellen Bahr, Matthew Carruthers, Zebulin Evelhoch, Bohyun Kim, Colby Riggs, and Roy Tennant (OCLC Liaison).

About LITA

Established in 1966, the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) is the leading organization reaching out across types of libraries to provide education and services for a broad membership of nearly 2,700 systems librarians, library technologists, library administrators, library schools, vendors, and many others interested in leading edge technology and applications for librarians and information providers. LITA is a division of the American Library Association. Follow us on our Blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

About OCLC

OCLC is a nonprofit global library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC’s WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world’s collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.

Contact:

Jenny Levine

Executive Director

Library and Information Technology Association

LITA

jlevine@ala.org

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