91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — Mary W. Ghikas is the winner of the 2020 Joseph W. Lippincott Award. This award is sponsored by Joseph W. Lippincott III and presented by the 91´«Ã½ for distinguished service to the profession of librarianship.

The jury for the 2020 Joseph W. Lippincott Award is delighted to honor Mary W. Ghikas for her many accomplishments during a long, varied and distinguished career as a librarian, library administrator and network director; and for the past 25 as a senior leader and knowledgeable, steadying presence in the 91´«Ã½. Among the achievements specifically noted by Winston Tabb, chair of the Lippincott jury and jury members are Mary Ghikas’s bold, outstanding service as executive director and senior associate executive director of 91´«Ã½; her service as a mentor, coach and role model to countless colleagues, particularly to new professionals; her strong support for library and information science education in general, but particularly with 91´«Ã½’s critical role in enabling and promoting continuing professional development; and her deep commitment to increasing and supporting diversity, inclusion and equity both in our profession at large and within 91´«Ã½.

Numerous colleagues wrote in support of her selection for this high honor, variously describing her as “a doer, not a maintainer,” “a solid rock,” “kind and caring,” “willing to tackle difficult issues,” but also a “stabilizing influence.” Taken together, these achievements and traits demonstrate in an exemplary way the “distinguished service to the profession of librarianship” the Lippincott Award was established to honor.

The award will be presented Jan. 24, at the Midwinter Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, preceding the 91´«Ã½ Presidents Program.

In addition to Chair Winston Tabb, Baltimore, the members of the 2020 Joseph W. Lippincott Award jury are: Patricia Glass Schuman, Long Beach, New York; Robert Newlen, Arlington, Virginia; Ann K. Symons, Juneau, Alaska; and Julia M.G. Warga, Gambier, Ohio.

The deadline for submission of applications for the 2021 Joseph W. Lippincott Award is Feb. 1, 2021.

Guidelines and forms are available on the 91´«Ã½ website.