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REACHING THE PINNACLE OF THE PROFESSION
SLA ANNOUNCES 2004 AWARD WINNERS

Washington, D.C., February 19, 2004 —The Special Libraries Association (SLA), has selected twenty-five outstanding individuals as recipients for its 2004 Awards and Honors. These individuals were selected for their exemplary contributions and achievements in the information profession and the Association.

In making the announcement, SLA President Cynthia V. Hill declared, “the class of 2004 award honorees represent the pinnacle of the information profession. Through commitment, dedication and unselfish deeds, they have truly elevated the information profession and set the benchmark that much higher.”

SLA annually recognizes exceptional individuals who have made significant achievements in the information profession and the Association. All candidates are reviewed by select committees and are approved by the SLA Board of Directors. Awards are presented in a particular category only if a nominee meets the criteria. Award winners will be officially honored on June 6, 2004, 7:00 p.m., at The Parthenon in Nashville, TN.

The SLA Hall of Fame is conferred upon Ellen Miller, Springfield, NJ; Wilda Newman, Knowledge Associates Resources, LLC, Columbia, MD; and Ruth Seidman, Brookline, MA. Membership is granted to SLA members at or near the end of an active professional career in recognition of an extended and sustained period of distinguished service to the Association in all spheres. Each was selected for her longtime guidance, leadership roles, and exceptional service and commitment to SLA.

The John Cotton Dana Award is bestowed upon Donna Scheeder, Congressional Reference Department, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; and Barbara Semonche, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. The award is named in honor of the founder of SLA and is conferred upon a member for exceptional service in special librarianship. Each was recognized for her wisdom, longstanding contributions, and lifetime achievements in their distinguished careers as information professionals.

The Rose L. Vormelker Award is presented to Anne Caputo, Knowledge and Learning Programs, Factiva, Washington, DC; and Doris Helfer, University Library, California State University-Northridge, Northridge, CA. The award recognizes SLA members for exceptional service to the profession of special librarianship through the mentoring of students and/or practicing professionals in the field. Both of these outstanding role models were recognized for their exemplary leadership, dedication, and commitment to mentoring.

Fellows of the Special Libraries Association are called upon to advise the Association's Board of Directors and alert the membership to issues and trends warranting action, and are recognized as active SLA members with future leadership potential for the Association. The Class of 2004 SLA Fellows are: Susan DiMattia, Corporate Library Update, Reed Business Information, New York, NY; Richard Geiger, Library, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA; Karen Kreizman Reczek, Bureau Veritas, Buffalo, NY; Agnes Mattis, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meager, and Flom, New York, NY; and Lyle Minter, Serial & Government Publications Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

The SLA President's Award is conferred upon the members of the Executive Director Search Committee. The committee members are: Committee Chair G. Lynn Berard, Science Libraries, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA; Tamika Barnes, Research and Information Services, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; Mary Lee Kennedy, Knowledge Network Group, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA; Mary “Dottie” Moon, Strategic & Development, Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford, CT; and Richard Hulser, Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA. The award is given annually to SLA members who display an ongoing commitment to the development of the Association as the premier organization for information professionals. Each of these individuals was recognized for his or her unique efforts, drive, and leadership within the committee.

The SLA Professional Award is presented to Dr. T.N. Prakash, Information Technology, Aeronautical Development Agency, Bangalore, India; and Elton B. Stephens, founder, EBSCO Services, Birmingham, AL. The award is presented to an individual or group who may or may not hold membership in the Association, in recognition of major achievements in, or a specific significant contribution to, the field of librarianship or information science. Both individuals were recognized for their significant contributions and achievements in the information profession as innovators, contributors, and teachers throughout their careers.

The H.W. Wilson Company Award is presented to Jill Konieczko, Library, US News & World Report, Washington, DC, and Cynthia Powell, Washington, DC. The award is presented to authors of outstanding articles published in Information Outlook®, SLA’s monthly magazine. Konieczko and Powell authored “Information Centers that Innovate,” an article published in the January 2003 issue, which focused on the common experiences and situations of different libraries and provided practical and adaptable advice for information professionals in similar organizations.

The Member Achievement Award is presented to Kenlee Ray, Washington, DC. The award acknowledges a member of SLA for raising visibility and public awareness of, and appreciation for, the profession and/or the Association.  Ray has been instrumental in raising awareness and positive publicity in the field of special librarianship through her community outreach activities and her tireless efforts to affect the lives of under-privileged kids.

The SLA Diversity Leadership Development Award recognizes individuals from multi-cultural backgrounds who display excellent leadership abilities in the profession and demonstrate a willingness to develop and strive for leadership opportunities within the Association. The year’s winners are Innocent A. Awasom, Science Reference Librarian, Magrath Library, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; Praveen Kumar Jain, Assistant Librarian, Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi Enclave, Delhi, India; Paiki Muswazi, Head of Special Collections, University of Swaziland Libraries, Kwaluseni, Swaziland; Akram Sadeghi Pari, Cataloging Librarian, Cincinnati Law Library Association, Cincinnati, OH; Cassandra M. Shieh, Information Specialist, Catholic News Service, Washington, DC.

About SLA
The Special Libraries Association (SLA), is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than 12,000 members in 83 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.