Betty J. Turock receives 2006 Lippincott Award
Contact: Cheryl Malden
Program Officer
312-280-3247
For Immediate Release
March 7, 2006
Betty J. Turock receives 2006 Lippincott Award
CHICAGO – Betty J. Turock is the 2006 recipient of the American Library Association (ALA) Joseph W. Lippincott Award, which recognizes an individual for distinguished service to the profession of librarianship. The award was founded in 1938 by the late Joseph W. Lippincott and consists of a citation and $1,000 donated by Lippincott's grandson, Joseph W. Lippincott, III.
A speaker, an author, a teacher, and an incredible advocate for libraries, Turock has contributed to advancing the profession of librarianship through her service in countless leadership roles in professional service organizations at both the state and national levels. Her contributions to the American Library Association have been manifold, as an outspoken member of the Association's governing Council, a member of the Executive Board, and ultimately as president (1995-96).
“While it is easy to recount Betty's public accomplishments, it is equally important to recognize that while working and establishing concrete programs inside and outside the profession, she has at the same time supported, mentored, taught, guided, enabled, and inspired many thousands of librarians to do the same,” said ALA Past President Sarah Long. “As the 1998 Equality Award winner, her citations commended her ‘for her pioneering efforts, encouragement and commitment to the standard of equal opportunities for diverse library employees; and for her gift of motivating others to find creative ways to better serve populations and communities that have been historically underserved.’”
“On behalf of New Jersey library community, the thousands of students she touched during her years as a professor at Rutgers School of Communication, Information and Library Science, the careers she help shape, the people she mentored, her lasting contributions to the scholarship of our profession, advancing the ALA agenda and for being Betty she deserves the Joseph W. Lippincott Award,” said ALA President-Elect Leslie Burger.
"Dr. Betty J. Turock's contributions to both the American Library Association specifically and to the profession of librarianship in general embody the intent of the Lippincott Award,” said Lippincott Jury Chair Charles Harmon of Neal-Schuman Publishers in New York City. “Dr. Turock has done everything from being a branch head and library director to being a senior advisor in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement's Library Programs division to chairing one of America's finest LIS programs. Her tenure as ALA president and passionate leadership for ALA's Spectrum Scholarship program will impact librarianship for generations to come."
An advocate for diversity and equity in the library profession, Turock was one of the creators of the Spectrum Scholarship Program. She and her family also established the Betty J. Turock Scholarship endowment to support minority scholars.
“Held in highest regard by vast members of American Library Association members, Dr Turock is a natural and fitting candidate for one of ALA's most esteemed awards,” said Tracie Hall, 1998 Spectrum Scholar and director of ALA's Office for Diversity. “Despite an amazing career and the earned respect of colleagues nationwide, Dr. Turock remains humble, accessible, and eager, to listen, to help, and to support others. Quite simply, she represents the very best our profession has to offer.”
Other members of the 2006 Joseph W. Lippincott Award are: Christine Lind Hage, Rochester Hills (Mich.) Public Library; Josie B. Parker, Ann Arbor (Mich.) District Library; Margaret Donnellan Todd, Los Angeles County Library; and Ann Zeidman-Karpinski, University of Oregon, Eugene.
The Lippincott Award will be presented Tuesday, June 27, during the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.
