For immediate release | June 13, 2025

Julia M. Gelfand to receive Humphry/OCLC/Forest Press Award for International Librarianship

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CHICAGO — Julia M. Gelfand is this year’s recipient of the American Library Association (ALA) International Relations Committee’s John Ames/Humphry/OCLC/ Forest Press Award.

OCLC/Forest Press donated the cash award of $1,000, which is given to an individual for significant contribution to international librarianship.

”Julia Gelfand has had a long career in academic libraries with a major focus on global librarianship. Even prior to her attending library school, she demonstrated a promise in that direction by having served as a student assistant in her elementary school and high school libraries,” said Dr. Shali Zhang, who nominated Gelfand for this award. “Following graduation from Goucher College, Julia was named a recipient of a Thomas J. Watson Foundation Fellowship that allowed her to study the role of national libraries in Western Europe that set the next phase of her predestined library career.”

“Over the course of her career, Julia has remained deeply engaged in the international library community. Serving as both a Member-at-Large and co-editor of International Leads, she has displayed an unwavering dedication to building connections transcending geographical and cultural divides. As a fellow co-editor, Julia contributed stories about libraries and librarians that not only inspire but also deserve global recognition,” noted Dr. Reysa Alenzuela in her nomination letter. “Her discussions on pertinent issues further underscore her commitment to addressing relevant issues in the libraries. As a colleague, I have personally witnessed her steadfast dedication, as she invests time and shares insightful ideas, enriching our collaborative efforts.”

“Julia has chaired the IFLA Science & Technology Libraries Section, which “brings together representatives from libraries and associations who are involved in collecting and providing access to information and data in the disciplines of the physical sciences, technology, and engineering,” shared Dr. Sandy Hirsh on her nomination letter. “Chairing a section for IFLA is a major responsibility -- requiring complex coordination of committee members from around the world in different time zones, preparing reports of committee plans and accomplishments, and working on numerous other deliverables for the IFLA Headquarters. She has also served as an elected committee member for several other sections including Acquisitions and Collection Development Section and Continuing and Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section.”

In addition to her work with the Internation Relations Round Table (IRRT), Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), Gelfand has served as chair or committee member for groups in the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services, Society for Scholarly Publishing, and IFLA, along with serving as secretary of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Information, Computing, and Communication Section. She has served the library community through the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Library Advisory Board and numerous ALA appointments in groups such as the International Relations Round Table and Reference & User Services Association. Gelfand was also honored as a 2020 National Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2021, Gelfand was named ACRL’s Academic/Research Librarian of the Year.

Julia Gelfand will be recognized during the International Librarians Reception on Saturday, June 28 held during the ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

For more information regarding the award, or a complete list of past recipients, please visit the Humphry Award page.

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.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

Contact:

Michael Dowling

Director

International Relations Office

intl@ala.org