In the heart of Norway's oldest town, twenty years ago, during the World Library and Information Congress in Oslo in 2005, a moment of intellectual and personal connection was captured. Dr. Lois Mais Chan and I shared a memorable encounter during the library tour of Tønsberg and Nøtterøy Public Library. This image, taken shortly after the organized tour, preserves a cherished moment of Dr. Chan's career and life.
Photo caption: Lois Mais Chan in Tønsberg, Norway with the author. Photo by Ash Coleman.
I was first introduced to Dr. Chan's groundbreaking works—"Library of Congress Subject Headings" and "Cataloging and Classification: An Introduction” when I was a graduate MLIS student. They were essential tools in library schools and libraries worldwide, and a part of my professional toolkit too. Her remarkable journey from a love of literature to becoming a leading figure in library science exemplifies determination, excellence, and the transformative power of mentorship. In her CALA video interview, Dr. Chan credits the guidance she received from her English teacher Carmen Rogers and from Louis Shores as having shaped her path, just as she would shape the paths of countless others.
Dr. Chan broke barriers and opened doors, yet her story reminds us that the journey toward true equity and representation in our profession continues—each generation building on the foundation laid by pioneers like her.
This tribute honors Dr. Chan's enduring legacy and the profound impact she had on librarians and library professionals across generations. As we commemorate milestone anniversaries—ALA's 150th and America's 250th—let us be inspired to remember and celebrate the library school teachers and mentor librarians who have shaped our careers, our values, and our information work.
Happy New Year 2026!
Anita
Notes
I was inspired to write this tribute after reading Kathleen’s (below):
Lois Mai Chan (Chinese: 麥麟屏) (1934-2014) was the first woman of Chinese heritage to be honored with the Beta Phi Mu Award.
She was Professor at the University of Kentucky School of Library and Information Science.
Beta Phi Mu Award - Wikipedia
Women's History Month - Wikipedia
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Kathleen de la Peña McCook
Distinguished University Professor
School of Information
University of South Florida
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2005 IFLA library tour: Tønsberg and Nøtterøy Public Library
Date: Wednesday 17 August, Thursday 18 August, All day
Transportation: Bus
Tønsberg and Nøtterøy Public Library is located in Tønsberg, the oldest town in Norway, 1133 years old. The town is located 100 kilometres south of Oslo. Tønsberg and Nøtterøy Library was founded in 1909. It is a mutual library for the 55,000 inhabitants of Tønsberg and Nøtterøy municipalities. In 1992 the library moved to a modern building "Under the trees of knowledge" designed by the architects Lunde & Løvseth, built on the site of St Olav's Monastery. The monastery ruins and the remains of two Viking ship graves provide an exiting contrast to the modern technology and the special architecture of the building. Library innovation, especially in the fields of automation, virtual services and self-service systems are the main aims. Welcome to an exciting mixture of information, recreation and inspiration. Source: https://origin-archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla71/Library-tours.htm
Video interview of Dr. Chan archived in the CALA repository was made by the 2014 American Library Association’s Emerging Leaders in association with the Chinese American Librarians Association:Lois Mai Chan (Chinese: 麥麟屏, July 30, 1934 – August 20, 2014), beloved professor, researcher, and author in the field of cataloging and classification, retired in 2011 after 45 years of service to the University of Kentucky. In her career, she published over 20 books, gave lectures around the world, won numerous grants and awards, and served as a consultant to the Library of Congress. Her textbooks are used in library schools around the world, including the popular "Cataloging and Classification: An Introduction."
This video commemorates her illustrious career and contributions to the field of library and information science.
It was produced by Team G of the 2014 ALA Emerging Leaders in association with the Chinese American Librarians Association.
Source: Pun, Ray; Tong, Monnee; Suber, Samuel; Rod-Welch, Leila, “Telling Chinese American Librarians' Stories: Lois Mai Chan,” CALASYS - CALA Academic Resources & Repository System, accessed December 31, 2025, https://ir.cala-web.org/items/show/121.
Direct link to the 12 min video is: https://youtu.be/ZBWB2S3tqRs?si=JFFYS6DJckSih_5B
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Anita Sundaram Coleman, PhD | Infophilia, A Positive Psychology of Information
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