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CHICAGO — Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, associate librarian at the , is the 2019 Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL) Academic/Research Librarian of the Year. The award, sponsored by GOBI Library Solutions from EBSCO, recognizes an outstanding member of the library profession who has made a significant national or international contribution to academic/research librarianship and library development.

Kendrick will receive a $5,000 award during the Middle Keynote session on Thursday, April 11, at the ACRL 2019 Conference in Cleveland.

“Kaetrena Davis Kendrick is a fully engaged and dedicated professional with her finger on the pulse of some of the most relevant and significant issues in academic librarianship today,” said Jennifer L. Fabbi, chair of the ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year Award Committee and dean of the California State University-San Marcos University Library. “Her work in the areas of underserved and rural user populations, professional ethics, and morale in the profession are discussed widely and used in graduate library programs. Kaetrena is framing discussions influencing the future of our profession and the next generation of librarians.”

“This award has recognized librarians on whom I have modeled my practical and scholarly endeavors, and I am deeply humbled. I join them with a spirit of thankfulness and resolve,” Kendrick said. “Work in small and rural American academic libraries is often done under augmented constraints, and winning this award highlights and amplifies the positive, diligent efforts of librarians and library workers in these communities who help realize their campuses’ goals of teaching, research, scholarship, and service. Thank you.”

Kendrick exemplifies today’s academic and research librarian through her tireless dedication to the profession both at her local library and on the global stage. Working at a small academic library with only one other librarian, she has sought new and innovative ways to serve her campus community. Kendrick launched the Lancer Scholar Square, a local institutional repository, using open source software and implemented a Library of Things service that provides students, faculty, and staff with access to a range of circulating materials including tripods, presentation clickers, and virtual reality viewers. She additionally found creative ways to host a maker space in the library, using accessible and cost-efficient materials. All of these projects demonstrate Kendrick’s dedication to bringing national trends to libraries with limited resources.

Outside of her home institution, Kendrick’s service orientation is shown in a wide range of publications and presentations on topics including equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in librarianship; professional ethics and workplace issues; and the challenges facing small and rural libraries. She shared the knowledge and insights she gained at the University of South Carolina-Lancaster with her peers as co-editor of the 2016 ACRL book “” featuring a mix of case studies and interviews written by librarians who share Kendrick’s commitment to transforming libraries through creativity and innovation.

Kendrick also shares her insights through contributions to the LIS research literature. Her 2017 Journal of Library Administration article “” is widely recognized as a benchmark study in this under-researched area of librarianship. She has also contributed research on EDI topics in several well-received articles including “,” Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian (2011), and international librarianship through works such as her 2014 IFLA Journal article “.”

“I am delighted that Kaetrena Davis Kendrick has been selected to receive ACRL’s top recognition of an individual - the Academic/Research Librarian of the Year Award,” said ACRL Executive Director Mary Ellen K. Davis. “Her significant and influential research contributes to the development of academic librarianship and her dedication to her local community is equally impressive. She leads by example through a strong commitment to serving and uplifting traditionally underrepresented and underserved groups of all kinds, both on her campus and in the profession.”

Kendrick is the author of “” (2009) and “” (2007), both published by ACRL.

Her additional contributions to the journal literature include co-authoring “,” Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian (2015); “The impact of cloud computing on librarians at small and rural academic libraries,” Southeastern Librarian (2014); and “Impact of the Code of Ethics on workplace behavior in academic libraries,” Journal of Information Ethics (2011).

Kendrick’s record of service to ACRL and 91´«Ã½ includes serving as a member (2012-16) and chair (2016-18) of the C&RL News Editorial Board, member of the 91´«Ã½ Committee on Professional Ethics (2014-16), member of the 91´«Ã½ Publishing Committee (2010-12), and member of the ACRL 2009 Panel Sessions Sub-committee (2007-2008), among other appointments. She also served the profession as a member of the 2006 and 2012 Joint Conference of Librarians of Color Proceedings Committees.

Before becoming associate librarian in 2017, Kendrick served the Medford Library as assistant librarian (2012-17) and librarian instructor (2012). She previously held positions at the University of South Carolina Aiken Gregg-Graniteville Library (2009-11) and the Georgia State University Library (2005-09).

Kendrick received her B.A. in English from Winthrop University and M.S.L.S from the Clark Atlanta University School of Library and Information Studies.

The ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year award dates back to 1978, and recent award winners include David W. Lewis (2018); Loretta Parham (2017); Susan K. Nutter (2016); Robert A. Seal (2015); Tim Bucknall (2014); Patricia Iannuzzi (2013); Paula T. Kaufman (2012); Janice Welburn (2011); Maureen Sullivan (2010); Gloriana St. Clair (2009); Peter Hernon (2008); Lizabeth (Betsy) Wilson (2007); Ray English (2006); Ravindra Nath (R. N.) Sharma (2005); Tom Kirk (2004); Ross Atkinson, (2003); and Shelley Phipps (2002).

For more information regarding the award, or a complete list of past recipients, please visit .

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About ACRL

The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) is the higher education association for librarians. Representing more than 10,000 academic and research librarians and interested individuals, ACRL (a division of the 91´«Ã½) develops programs, products and services to help academic and research librarians learn, innovate and lead within the academic community. Founded in 1940, ACRL is committed to advancing learning and transforming scholarship. ACRL is on the web at , Facebook at and Twitter at .

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