91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — The Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) of the 91´«Ã½ is proud to present the 2023 Herb Biblo Outstanding Leadership Award for Social Justice and Equality. The award is funded by a SRRT/91´«Ã½ endowment and Library Juice Press and the purpose of this award is to recognize an individual for outstanding leadership in promoting social justice and/or equality within the library profession. Leadership can be demonstrated by accomplishments through the Social Responsibilities Round Table or other 91´«Ã½ bodies; socially responsible groups within state, provincial, regional, or city library organizations; and/or international library organizations.

Preference is given to persons who have had the widest impact, including influence on the greater society outside the library environment. To be eligible for this award, individuals must be members of SRRT or other library organizations or groups with similar goals and objectives. The $4,000 award is given yearly at the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference.

The recipient of the 2023 Herb Biblo Outstanding Leadership Award for Social Justice and Equality is Dr. Michele Villagran.

Dr. Michele A. L. Villagran (she/her/ella) is an accomplished educator; innovative speaker; entrepreneur; and cultural intelligence, diversity, and inclusion expert with over 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors. As an assistant professor at San José State University (SJSU) School of Information, Villagran’s research focuses on diversity and social justice in library and information science and cultural intelligence phenomena within libraries. At San José State University, she serves as Faculty-at-Large Representative for the University Campus Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (beginning in fall 2023); Chair of the College Academic Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Committee; and former Chair of the School of Information Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee.

Villagran earned her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Master of Dispute Resolution and Certificate of Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University. At the University of North Texas, Dr. Villagran completed a MLS degree in Legal Informatics and MBA in Strategic Management.

About SRRT

The Social Responsibilities Round Tables (SRRT) is a unit within the 91´«Ã½. It works to make 91´«Ã½ more democratic and to establish progressive priorities not only for the Association but also for the entire profession. Concern for human and economic rights was an important element in the founding of SRRT and remains an urgent concern today. SRRT believes that libraries and librarians must recognize and help solve social problems and inequities in order to carry out their mandate to work for the common good and bolster democracy.