During the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago last week, the American Library Association Council passed two memorial resolutions commemorating FTRF Roll of Honor winners, Carolyn Forsman and Russell Shank:
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION HONORING CAROLYN FORSMAN
Whereas the American Library Association
(ALA) and the Freedom to Read Foundation lost a valued member and leader on January
19, 2013; and
Whereas Carolyn Forsman was a tireless
and outspoken advocate of intellectual freedom and the freedom to read and
received the Freedom to Read Foundation 2001 Roll of Honor Award; and
Whereas she was in the first class of
doctoral students in library science at the University of Maryland, 1969-72; and
Whereas she served as a librarian at
Vallejo Public Library and the Washington, DC
Public Library; and
Whereas her excellent visualization
skills and creative instinct led to jewelry that "spins, sparkles, flips, flashes, glows, winks, snaps
& slinks” and an ALA booth that was a true pioneer of "maker space”; and
Whereas she used her creativity to
establish an ALA Exhibits booth to sell her jewelry and donate the proceeds to the Freedom to Read
Foundation: now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA), on
behalf of its members:
- recognizes
the significant contributions of Carolyn Forsman to the cause of intellectual
freedom and librarianship; and
- extends its sincerest condolences to her friends and family.
A MEMORIAL
RESOLUTION HONORING RUSSELL SHANK
Whereas
the American Library Association (ALA) and the Freedom toRead
Foundation lost a renowned member and leader on June 26, 2012 with the death of
Russell Shank; and
Whereas
Russell Shank served from 1967 to 1977 as the Smithsonian Institution’s first-ever director of
libraries; and
Whereas
he served as the first-ever vice chancellor for library and information services
and planning, and in other leadership positions, at the UCLA Libraries from
1977-1989; and
Whereas
he served as the President of the American Library Association from
1978-79, during which time he joined ALA’s Council in supporting the passage of
the Equal Rights Amendment; and
Whereas
he was a staunch defender of intellectual freedom and received the Freedom to Read Roll of
Honor in 1990; and
Whereas
he was an extremely kind, sensitive person and in spite of his health
challenges, never lost his sense of humor: now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the American Library
Association (ALA), on behalf of its members:
- Recognizes the significant contributions
of Russell Shank over the course of his distinguished career and mourns his
death; and
- Extends its sincerest condolences to his friends and family.