The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce Dr. Nancy P. Zimmerman as the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Service Award. Zimmerman, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs of The Graduate School and an associate professor in the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina, will receive the award at the AASL Awards Luncheon during the 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim.
Since 1986, Zimmerman has made an impact on the mission of AASL as president, treasurer, membership chair, a key member of multiple committees, a creator of the "Celebrate Conference," and a member of the School Library Media Research Editorial Board. During her time on the executive board, Zimmerman led the establishment of an endowment fund to secure the financial stability of the association and led AASL to full board membership of The Partnership for 21st Century Skills. She was also a member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards School Library Media Standards Writing Committee and served on the advisory board of the GEM Project, a consortium to provide teachers a gateway to quality instructional materials on the Internet. Currently, she is a member of the Advisory Board of CISSL (Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries) at Rutgers University.
Zimmerman's work to promote school librarians does not stop with AASL. She has also been active in state associations, including serving as president of the New York Library Association, chair ALA’s Library Research Round Table, and as a multi-term ALA Councilor-at-Large. She is currently the president of Beta Phi Mu, the International Library and Information Studies Honor Society.
In her nomination letter, Erlene Bishop Killeen stated, "Wherever Nancy is, she is promoting school librarians and professional involvement." Killeen further wrote, "Dr. Zimmerman guided countless students through their school library practicum...always networking and seeking the best practicing professionals as placements for her students. She encourages recent grads to become active in state and national associations, continuing their professional development. Nancy leads by example and invites others to join her in the journey."
Sponsored by Baker and Taylor, the Distinguished Service Award was established in 1978. The award recognizes an individual member of the library profession who has, over a significant period of time, made an outstanding national contribution to school librarianship and school library development. The AASL Awards Luncheon will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, June 30, at the Marriott Hotel-Anaheim. The fee to attend is $49. Special guest speaker for the event is award-winning author Wendy Mass. For more information about this event and more AASL programs in Anaheim, visit http://www.ala.org/aasl/annual. The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library media services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library media field.
Zimmerman's work to promote school librarians does not stop with AASL. She has also been active in state associations, including serving as president of the New York Library Association, chair ALA’s Library Research Round Table, and as a multi-term ALA Councilor-at-Large. She is currently the president of Beta Phi Mu, the International Library and Information Studies Honor Society.
In her nomination letter, Erlene Bishop Killeen stated, "Wherever Nancy is, she is promoting school librarians and professional involvement." Killeen further wrote, "Dr. Zimmerman guided countless students through their school library practicum...always networking and seeking the best practicing professionals as placements for her students. She encourages recent grads to become active in state and national associations, continuing their professional development. Nancy leads by example and invites others to join her in the journey."
Sponsored by Baker and Taylor, the Distinguished Service Award was established in 1978. The award recognizes an individual member of the library profession who has, over a significant period of time, made an outstanding national contribution to school librarianship and school library development. The AASL Awards Luncheon will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, June 30, at the Marriott Hotel-Anaheim. The fee to attend is $49. Special guest speaker for the event is award-winning author Wendy Mass. For more information about this event and more AASL programs in Anaheim, visit http://www.ala.org/aasl/annual. The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library media services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library media field.
