Apr 3, 2008
ALA News Release
March 31, 2008
Contact:
Delin R. Guerra
312-280-3201
dguerra@ala.org
Barbara J. Ford is this year's recipient of the American Library Association (ALA)
International Relations Committee's John Ames/Humphry/OCLC/Forest Press Award. OCLC/Forest Press
donated the cash award of $1,000, which is given to an individual for significant contribution to
international librarianship.
Ford, the director of the Mortenson
Center for International Library Programs
and a professor at the Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
received this award for her librarianship efforts, extensive publications and significant
contributions to the American Library Association (ALA) and International Federation of Library
Associations (IFLA). Her publication record speaks for itself. She has presented and published on
international aspects of librarianship and, through her editorial positions, has encouraged the
dissemination of information on librarianship to a global audience.
"Barbara J. Ford is truly an outstanding and influential international librarian. She is
thoroughly committed to connecting librarians around the world through her work at the Mortenson
Center for International Library Programs at the University of Illinois, through her long
involvement with IFLA, including serving on the governing board from 2005-2007, and through her
leadership in ALA's and ACRL's (Association of College and Research Libraries) international
committees and activities, including serving as ALA President from 1997-98. Ms. Ford also spent
four years in the Peace Corps in Panama and Nicaragua and continually presents and publishes about
her international activities," said Robin L. Kear, Chair of the IRC-John Ames Humphry/OCLC/Forest
Press Award Committee.
Ms. Ford will be recognized during the International Relations Round Table Chair's Program on
Monday, June 30, at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.
News release originally published at http://ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/march2008/humphry.cfm.