Cara Schatz
703.647.4917
cara@sla.org
David Shumaker Honored as Exceptional Educator with
2009 Rose Vormelker Award
Inspirational Professor Focuses Instruction on
Embedded Librarianship and Marketing
Alexandria, Virginia, February 3, 2010 - David Shumaker, associate professor at the Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C., was recently honored by the Special Libraries Association (SLA) with the 2009 Rose L. Vormelker Award for excellence in guiding and mentoring future information professionals and librarians.
Since joining the faculty at CUA, Shumaker has actively recruited students to the library profession and promoted the values of special librarianship. The students in his Marketing Information Services class participate in real-life practicum assignments in libraries all over the Washington, D.C., area.
"I think that one of the best things that Dave has his students do is actual fieldwork," says SLA member Eileen Boswell, a former student of Shumaker's. "It is really critical for library and information students to apply what they're learning in the classroom out in the real world. Dave is definitely a good influence on students because he encourages us to keep striving and creating, and to keep asking questions for the rest of our careers. Learning doesn't stop with our diplomas."
Shumaker has served as clinical associate professor and director of the Information Commons at the CUA School of Library and Information Science since August 2006. Through his work with library school students, Shumaker encourages the study and application of "embedded librarianship," which is the idea that the librarian or information professional break out of the library or information center and work directly with external clients as an integral part of specialized project teams.
"The embedded librarian doesn't wait to be asked; the embedded librarian identifies information needs that may be unexpressed," says Shumaker. "The embedded librarian can proactively go out and get the information, the best information, the most important information, and make sure it gets to the point of need."
Compelled by his belief that students need to collaborate, share information and build relationships, Shumaker has led the establishment of a multipurpose collaborative space for CUA called the Information Commons. He also organizes a series of colloquia each semester, taught by innovative librarians, on a variety of interesting and engaging topics. According to his nominators, this program is "extremely popular" with CUA students as well as students from other library and information schools in the region.
"Teaching is important for me for two reasons," Shumaker says. "One is the desire to share what I've gained with others, and the other is that I think our society really needs librarians. I am very honored to receive this award and there are lots and lots of people I could thank, but I want to thank my students most of all, because the little secret about all of this is that they teach me every single day, and they're great!"
"The future of this profession is so dependent on the passion and dedication of professors like Dave who are educating and mentoring students on innovative implementation of their skills and exciting alternative career paths," said Gloria Zamora, 2010 SLA past president. "I am so happy to honor him with this award, and I hope that his work can inspire more SLA members to be exceptional and inspirational in their work with novice library and information professionals."
About Dave Shumaker
Prior to joining CUA, Shumaker was manager of Information Services at Mitre. Earlier in his career, he was a Library of Congress intern, a cataloger and an automation specialist for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Shumaker is co-editor of two editions of the Washington Area Library Directory and author of presentations for SLA conferences and other events. In 2005, he co-authored a white paper on the future of librarians in business for a study, "The Future of Librarians in the Workplace," funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. He holds a bachelor's degree in Slavic languages from the University of California Los Angeles, a master's degree in library science from Drexel University, and a master's degree in management from the University of Maryland.
About SLA
The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves about 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: B-roll, headshots and high-resolution photographs are available. Please contact Cara Schatz in the SLA PR Office to schedule an interview or request additional materials, e-mail: cara@sla.org or 703.647.4917.
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