RUSA selects Elliot Kanter to receive ‘My Favorite Martian Award'

Eileen Hardy


Marketing Specialist


312/280-4398


ehardy@ala.org

For Immediate Release


May 12, 2005

RUSA selects Elliot Kanter to receive ‘My Favorite Martian Award'

CHICAGO - Elliot Kanter, reference librarian and bibliographer at the University of California at San Diego, is the 2005 recipient of the Machine-Assisted Reference Section Recognition Certificate, also known as the ‘My Favorite Martian Award.'

The Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS), a section of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), administers the award. It is given to an individual to recognize excellence in service to MARS.

“I am delighted to announced that this year's choice for ‘My Favorite Martian' is long-time MARS member Elliot Kanter, who is sometimes refereed to as ‘Mr. MARS,' and has been actively involved since early 1984 when he volunteered to intern with the Direct Patron Access to Online Databases Committee,” stated Doris Ann Sweet, chair of MARS. “In addition to his MARS, RUSA and other ALA activities, Elliot is recognized as a supportive mentor to other Martians and, in his quiet, thoughtful way, is the embodiment of the spirit of MARS.”

The certificate will be presented at the MARS Chair's Program, “ E-Reference Services: What Are Our Users Telling Us?” on June 26, 2005, at 10:30 a.m., during the 2005 ALA Annual Conference held in Chicago.

RUSA, an ALA division, is responsible for stimulating and supporting excellence in the delivery of general library services and materials to adults, and the provision of reference and information services, collection development, and resource sharing for all ages, in every type of library.