Smithsonian American Art Museum awarded Thomson Gale Award for Excellence in Reference and Adult Library Services
Contact: Eileen Hardy
Marketing Specialist
312-280-4398
For Immediate Release
February 16, 2005
Smithsonian American Art Museum awarded Thomson Gale Award
for Excellence in Reference and Adult Library Services
CHICAGO - The Smithsonian American Art Museum is the 2005 recipient of Thomson Gale Award for Excellence in Reference and Adult Services awarded by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
The $3,000 award and citation, donated by Thomson Gale, recognizes a library or library system for developing an imaginative and unique library resource to meet patrons' reference needs.
The museum is receiving the award for the Ask Joan of Art® web reference service. This service answers questions from the public about American art.
"Begun in 1993, Ask Joan of Art® was a pioneer in the digital reference field meeting people where they were across the nation," said Lori Thornton and Teresa Beck, award committee co-chairs.
"In recognition of more than 10 years of service excellence to students, teachers, librarians, the museum community, and life long learners, we are pleased to have chosen the Ask Joan of Art® web reference service for the Thomson Gale Award for Excellence in Reference and Adult Library Services."
Kathleen Adrian, administrator and reference librarian, will accept the award on behalf of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
The award will be presented at RUSA Awards Ceremony on June 27, 2005, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.
