Cara Schatz
+1.703.647.4917
cara@sla.org
Three Information and Library Luminaries
Inducted into SLA Hall of Fame
Legendary SLA Members from Boston, CalTech and The World Bank Recognized for Lifetime of Achievement and Lasting Legacy
to the Profession
Alexandria, Virginia, October 22, 2008--Three distinguished information professionals have been inducted into the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Hall of Fame. They are Dr. Toby Pearlstein, now retired director of information services for Boston-based Bain & Company, Dana Lincoln Roth, chemistry librarian at California Institute of Technology (CalTech), and the late Sue O'Neill Johnson, World Bank Librarian. All were honored for their work and contributions to the field of librarianship and information management at SLA's Annual Conference in Seattle.
To view the full story on these members and their important work, visit SLA's Tactical TV Channel:
- 2008 Hall of Fame Video
http://www.tacticaltv.com/media.cfm?c=263&m=1158&s=31& - All 2008 SLA Awards Videos
http://www.tacticaltv.com/channel.cfm?c=263&s=31
"The SLA Hall of Fame is reserved for members who have contributed a lifetime of service to the profession. These three dedicated members have had an enormous impact on the association and on so many professionals whom they have inspired," said SLA Chief Executive Officer Janice R. Lachance. "I am pleased that their commitment is being recognized by their peers with this well deserved honor."
The Hall of Fame award, presented to an SLA member in good standing at or near the end of an active professional career, recognizes significant service and contributions to the association and the profession. Only 129 individuals have been selected for the SLA Hall of Fame since its inception in 1959, including the 2008 inductees:
Sue O'Neill Johnson (Posthumously)
Sue O'Neill Johnson, who worked as a librarian at government and private venues, spent 12 years at the World Bank as manager of the IT Resource Center. She trained professionals at the bank's headquarters in Washington, D.C., and in overseas field offices in using information management tools to spread knowledge of best practices in economic and social development. A mentor who was known for her leadership abilities and irrepressible sense of humor, Johnson pushed those she trained to think globally. She held top positions in several professional associations, and at their meetings she often brought together librarians from developing countries to hear about the problems they faced. As a member of SLA, she raised funds to bring 25 librarians from developing countries to the Global Conference in Brighton, England. For her efforts, she received the association's President's Award. She was elected president of the D.C. Chapter in 2001 and received the Member of the Year Award. Johnson died at the age of 68 in September 2007. She is survived by her husband Doug Johnson and daughter Debbie O'Neill Flynn, who received condolence letters from librarians all over the world expressing gratitude and admiration for all that she had done to inspire and assist them in their careers. Flynn accepted the honor on behalf of her mother. In a statement, Mr. Johnson said, "She had great love for SLA and this would have meant a lot to her."
Toby Pearlstein, Ph.D.
Dr. Toby Pearlstein joined SLA in 1977. Before retiring from global business consulting firm Bain & Company, she was named a Fellow of SLA in 2007. She is a past chair of the Business and Finance Division and headed the unit's professional development activities for two terms. Through her many conference programs, Pearlstein has contributed to the professional development of her colleagues, most notably in the areas of running a global operation, vendor/licensing negotiations, and knowledge management.
Over the years, Pearlstein has presented successful and popular programs for SLA, including "Increasing Your Value in Trying Times" and "Information Workflow Tracking Dilemma." She served as chair of the Transportation Division and chair of the association's Professional Development Committee as well as served as a member of both the Research Committee and the Finance Committee. While at Bain & Company, she hosted events for the Boston Chapter and, most importantly, created a culture that encouraged librarians and info pros to become active members of SLA. Throughout her time there, she was able to bring many Bain employees around to see the value of career-long learning and networking opportunities available with SLA, and most of her former colleagues continue to be involved with the association.
Dana Lincoln Roth
Dana Lincoln Roth is the Chemistry Librarian at CalTech, where he celebrated his 40th year of service in 2007. Early in his career, Roth served as a library advisor at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India. He is the author of journal articles on various topics and has produced and shared insightful studies of journal pricing data. He has also served on publishers' journal advisory boards, including those of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Springer. His remarkable and vast knowledge and insights are frequently shared with a global community of chemical information professionals through the CHMINF-L (Chemical Information Sources) email discussion list, and he is well-known for his famous "Hall of Fame" and "Hall of Shame" postings to that list over the years. Roth is a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Society for Information Science and has been active in the Chemistry Division of SLA since 1991.
About SLA
The Special Libraries Association is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than 11,000 members in 75 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic, and government information specialists. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives. For more information, visit us on the Web at www.sla.org.
Note to Editors and Producers: Images, b-roll, supporting interviews and testimonies are available for use in coverage of this story. Please contact the SLA Director of PR, Cara Schatz at 703.647.4917 or cara@sla.org for more information.
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