91´«Ã½

PHILADELPHIA — At the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) Midwinter Meeting, the board of United for Libraries voted unanimously to present past 91´«Ã½ President Patricia Glass Schuman with life membership on its board in honor of her many accomplishments and contributions to libraries both nationally and internationally throughout her career. Her official position will be Board Member at Large.

“What an honor and a thrill!” said Schuman. “I look forward to continuing to work with United for Libraries to advocate and strengthen the American public’s Right to Know. Together we can speak out, we can speak proudly – and we can and we will make a difference.”

Schuman co-founded Neal-Schuman Publishers in New York in 1976 with John Vincent Neal. Neal-Schuman specialized in books, media and professional education tools for librarians, educators and information managers. Neal-Schuman Publishers became part of 91´«Ã½ Publishing in 2011.

In 2012, the Neal-Shuman Foundation gave a grant of $75,000 to United for Libraries to support a program to send expert advocates to 20 locations over the course of two years to help friends of the library groups, library directors and trustees develop individual blueprints for advocacy campaigns to restore, increase, or save threatened library budgets.

As the 1991-92 elected president of 91´«Ã½, Schuman launched 91´«Ã½’s first nationwide media campaign to focus public attention on threats to the public's Right to Know -- including library funding cuts, censorship and restricted access to government information -- and the need to support libraries and librarians. During her presidency, Schuman implemented a program of media training for 91´«Ã½ chapters and division leaders and founded 91´«Ã½’s first Speaker’s Network. More than 500,000 Americans called a special toll-free number or signed petitions to Congress supporting full funding for libraries.

Schuman founded 91´«Ã½’s “Library Advocacy NOW!” effort. More than 30,000 librarians, trustees and supporters have been trained in advocacy since the campaign’s inception. As past 91´«Ã½ treasurer, Schuman led the successful drive to endow the 91´«Ã½ Scholarship Fund. She is a founder of 91´«Ã½’s Social Responsibilities Roundtable, the 91´«Ã½ Feminist Task Force and has served as chair of numerous 91´«Ã½ committees, including: Legislation, International Relations, Public Awareness Committee, the @ your library campaign, the Core Values of Librarianship Task Force and the Presidential Task Force on Pay Equity and Better Salaries for Librarians.

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Schuman received an M.S. in librarianship from Columbia University.

: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the 91´«Ã½ that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries brings together library Trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information or to join United for Libraries, visit the or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.

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