Ross Atkinson Lifetime Achievement Award to Carol Pitts Diedrichs

Contact: Charles Wilt


Executive Director, ALCTS


(312) 280-5030


cwilt@ala.org


For Immediate Release,


February 22, 2008


Ross Atkinson Lifetime Achievement Award to Carol Pitts Diedrichs

CHICAGO-Carol Pitts Diedrichs, dean of libraries and William T. Young Endowed Chair at the University of Kentucky Libraries, is the recipient of the 2008 ALCTS Ross Atkinson Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is sponsored by EBSCO Information Services and honors the recipient with $3,000 and a citation. Ms. Diedrichs will receive her award at the ALCTS Awards Ceremony, Sunday, June 29, during the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.




The Ross Atkinson Lifetime Achievement Award honors the memory of Ross Atkinson, a distinguished library leader, author and scholar whose extraordinary service to the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) and the library community-at-large serves as a model for those in the field.




The ultimate practitioner/scholar, Diedrichs has written and spoken extensively on issues in acquisitions, serials, electronic resources, preservation, collection development, technical services organization and scholarly communication. She served for more than a decade as the editor-in-chief of
Library Collections, Acquisitions, and Technical Services, one of the premier peer-reviewed journals in the field. With colleague Trisha Davis, she developed the first Web-based course, Fundamentals of Acquisitions, offered by ALCTS, for which she was honored with an ALCTS Presidential Citation. Through her publications, presentations, committee assignments and consultancies, she has significantly influenced best practice in the rapidly changing fields of collections and acquisitions.




Diedrichs is known as a generous mentor and strong collaborator with a genteel, persuasive style. Her keen vision ensures that she is always on the cutting edge, seeking opportunities to improve library services to users. Respected for her ability to make tough decisions, she is appreciated for the contagious joy and energy she brings to every activity.




Her contributions include an outstanding record of professional involvement in local, regional and national organizations. ALCTS has benefited from her dedication and service for many years. She served as ALCTS President from 2004 to 2005 and as a director-at-large on the Board of Directors from 2001 to 2003. In addition to appointments to numerous committees and discussion groups, Diedrichs served as chair of the Acquisitions Section, Best of
LRTS jury and the ALCTS Nominating Committee. She was also honored twice with ALCTS awards: the Esther J. Piercy Award and the Acquisition Section's Leadership in Library Acquisitions Award.




Diedrichs has also taken on leadership roles in NASIG, the Association of Research Libraries and SOLINET. In 2002, she was one of only 14 individuals honored for their significant contributions to the founding and successful development of OhioLINK.




Diedrichs holds a bachelor's from Baylor University and an MLIS from the University of Texas at Austin. She began her professional career as a serials cataloger at the University of Houston Libraries, before becoming head of acquisitions and GEAC acquisitions systems manager. In 1987, Diedrichs moved to The Ohio State University Libraries, where she held several positions including Head of Acquisitions, Assistant Director for Technical Services and Assistant Director for Technical Services and Collections. Diedrichs was promoted to full Professor in 2002. In 2003, she accepted her current position at the University of Kentucky.




The Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) is the national association for information providers who work in collections and technical services, such as acquisitions, cataloging, collection development, preservation and continuing resources in digital and print formats.




ALCTS is a division of the American Library Association.