Betty J. Turock was President of the American Library Association 1995-1996. She is an LIS professor who was dean at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information.
During her time as American Library Association president Betty J. Turock worked closely with Senator Paul Simon (ALA Honorary Member, 1996) and Jeanne Hurley Simon, chair of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (ALA Honorary Member, 2000) on the legislative policies that created the Institute of Museums and Library Services. She oversaw implementation of the American Library Association’s Office for Information Technology Policy and was an insightful visionary for upstream access to information.
Sarah Long, ALA President, 1999-2000, turned to Betty Turock to chair the campaign that would create the Spectrum Endowment. Under Turock’s leadership, Spectrum received and continues to see broad support by ALA members, Spectrum alumni, library school students, ALA leadership, ALA divisions, offices, round tables and staff, and friends of libraries and librarians.
In her article, “Diversity: the 21st Century Spectrum," Elizabeth Martinez, then ALA Executive Director, connected the history of Turock’s agenda with Spectrum, an initiative of historic Association significance, (Martinez, Elizabeth, 1997. “Diversity: The 21st-Century Spectrum.” American Libraries 28 (March): 32.)
Betty J. Turock was honored with the Joseph W. Lippincott Award in 2006..
Betty J. Turock was awarded American Library Association Honorary Membership in 2012.
- Turock, Betty J. 1996. “Equity on the Information Superhighway: Inaugural Address.” Chicago: American Library Association (1995).
- Turock, Betty J.1996. Envisioning a Nation Connected: Librarians Define the Public Interest in the Information Superhighway. Chicago: American Library Association.
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List of presidents of the American Library Association - Wikipedia
American Library Association Honorary Membership - Wikipedia
Joseph Wharton Lippincott - Wikipedia
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science - Wikipedia
Institute of Museum and Library Services - 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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