Carla J. Stoffle receives 2003 Equality Award
Contact: Cheryl Malden
312-280-3247
For Immediate Release
April 28, 2003
Carla J. Stoffle receives 2003 Equality Award
Carla J. Stoffle is the 2003 recipient of the American Library Association (ALA) Equality Award, which recognizes contributions for promoting equality in the library profession. The award, given to an individual or group, consists of a citation and $500 donated by Scarecrow Press, a member of the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.
Stoffle, dean of libraries at the University of Arizona in Tucson, has instilled a greater understanding of diversity and equity at the University of Arizona and throughout the library profession.
“Carla Stoffle deserves this award because she has played a major role in promoting equality within the library profession and because she believes diversity is an integral part of our profession and services,” said Chair Faye Chadwell.
Stoffle has mentored countless individuals and instituted a number of programs including Peer Information Counseling, a minority outreach program where undergraduate minority students serve as information role models to other students.
She supports the recruitment and retention of librarians of color and supported a two-year program to bring newly graduated librarians of color to work in academic internships to familiarize them with academic librarianship by learning from senior librarians.
“Everything Carla Stoffle does in the library profession is based on two deeply held values: equality and diversity,” said past ALA President, Ann Symons. “Whether she is establishing a mentoring program, being an ALA or ARL officer, directing an academic library, planning a library education program to serve Hispanic and Native Americans, her decision-making always starts with diversity and equality.
These values have always been evident in her library and association work.”
Throughout her professional career Stoffle has worked to bring about change in her library organizations and other library organizations.
Stoffle is an active member of ALA and served as ALA Treasurer from 1988-1992.
She also is an active member of Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the ALA, and was ACRL president from1982-83.
Stoffle is a member of the Association of Research Libraries and was a founding member of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC).
A published author, she has written numerous articles and chapters in books, along with serving on panels and presenting workshops.
Stoffle has received numerous honors including the 2002 Elizabeth Futas Catalyst for Change Award, the ACRL Academic Library Excellence Award; Arizona Librarian of the Year; Martin Luther King Distinguished Leadership Award; Award for Faculty Excellence; Arizona Educational Media Association President’s Award; An Outstanding Woman of 1992, a Woman on the Move Award; and the Miriam Dudley Bibliographic Instruction Award.
Stoffle has a M.S.L.S. from the University of Kentucky and a B.A. from the University of Colorado.
“The Equality Award is given for an outstanding contribution that promotes equality in the library profession,” Joseph A. Boisse retired librarian said. “I would like to suggest that her entire career has been that ‘outstanding contribution’ because commitment to equality has been the guiding principle of her leadership in the profession.”
The ALA Equality Award will be presented Tuesday,
June 24, during the ALA/CLA joint Annual Conference in Toronto.
