Axel Schmetzke named Francis Joseph Campbell award recipient

Eileen Hardy


Marketing Specialist


312-280-4398


ehardy@ala.org

For Immediate Release


March 20, 2006

Axel Schmetzke named Francis Joseph Campbell award recipient

CHICAGO — Axel Schmetzke, Ph.D., is the recipient of the 2006 Francis Joseph Campbell Award. Schmetzke is professor, reference librarian, coordinator of instruction, and head of the Instructional Materials Center, University Library, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.

The honor, which consists of a citation and medal, is presented to a library or person who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library service for the blind and physically handicapped. The Library Service to People with Visual or Physical Disabilities Forum, of the Libraries Serving Special Populations Section of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), presents the award.

“Dr. Schmetzke's research, publications, and lectures in the area of accessible information technology have encouraged individuals who design online resources to meet the needs of library patrons with print disabilities,” said Rahye Puckett, award committee chair. “He has raised awareness in online resource selection and developed strategies to create barrier-free virtual library environments in libraries.”

The award is named for Francis Joseph Campbell (1832–1914), an American who lost his sight at the age of five. He was the music director at the Wisconsin School for the Blind and the Perkins Institution for the Blind. Campbell also was instrumental in the founding of the Royal National College for the Blind, and was knighted by King Edward VII of England.