Over the past 20 years, Professor Cole’s research in digital libraries, metadata design and sharing, and interoperable linked data frameworks have significantly enhanced discovery and access of scholarly content which embodies the spirit of this prestigious Award. His extensive publication record includes research papers, books, and conference publications and has earned more than $11 million in research grants during his career.

The Award Committee also noted Professor Cole’s significant contributions to major professional organizations including the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Digital Library Federation, and Open Archives Initiative, all of which help set the standards in metadata and linked data practices that influence everyday processes in libraries. We believe his continuing work on Linked Open Data will further improve how information is discovered and accessed. With all of Professor Cole’s research and service contributions, the Committee unanimously found him to be the ideal candidate to receive the 2017 Frederick G. Kilgour Award.

When notified he had been selected, Professor Cole said, "I am honored and very pleased to accept this Award. Fred Kilgour's recognition more than 50 years ago of the ways that computers and computer networks could improve both library services and workflow efficiencies was remarkably prescient, and his longevity and consistent success in this dynamic field was truly amazing. Many talented librarians have built on his legacy, and over the course of my career, I have found the opportunity to meet, learn from, and work with many of these individuals, including several prior Kilgour awardees, truly rewarding. I have been especially fortunate in my opportunities and colleagues at Illinois -- notably (to name but three) Bill Mischo, Myung-Ja Han, and Muriel Foulonneau -- as well as in my collaborations with other colleagues across the globe. It is these collaborations that account in large measure for the modest successes I have enjoyed. I am humbled by and most appreciative of the Award Committee for giving me this opportunity to join the ranks of Kilgour awardees."

Members of the 2017 Kilgour Award Committee are: Tabatha Farney (Chair), Ellen Bahr, Matthew Carruthers, Zebulin Evelhoch, Bohyun Kim, Colby Riggs, and Roy Tennant (OCLC Liaison).

About LITA

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About OCLC

is a nonprofit global library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain , the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC’s , a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world’s collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.