LHRT (Library History Round Table)

Diana Shonrock (1947-2026) was one of the leading voices at the Iowa State University library, where she worked in various capacities for more than 40 years. All who knew Diana recognized her passion for teaching and her indomitable drive to connect with others, share her expertise, and continue to grow. For many years at ISU Library, Diana taught the university's introduction to library research course, a graduation requirement for all undergraduates. She touched the lives of thousands of students in this high-enrollment course. She also served as a dedicated subject librarian for Food Sciences, Textiles & Clothing, and additional areas in Human Sciences, and excelled in her outreach and engagement with faculty and students in these areas. Every semester Diana far outpaced the rest of us in terms of the depth and breadth of her outreach and the quantity and quality of her instruction sessions. On top of this, Diana also held a number of leadership positions at the ISU Library throughout her long career and mentored many of us. 

Diana was very active in ALA, holding several elected positions in the mid-1990s through 2007. In 1996, she was elected as the secretary for ALA's busy Library Instruction Round Table and served in that capacity for three years. In 2001, she was elected as chair for RUSA's Management and Operation of User Services Section (MOUSS). During her tenure as chair, Diana helped reconfigure MOUSS into today's Reference Services Section (RSS) of RUSA. In 2005, Diana was elected president of RUSA and led that large division from 2006-07. 

These accomplishments and more are detailed in this published interview in which Diana herself narrates her long and varied career: "Managing a Career in Place," RUSQ, vol. 58, No. 4, https://journals.ala.org/index.php/rusq/article/view/7145/9714. It's a fun and inspiring read.  

Please see also her Obituary: https://www.adamssoderstrum.com/obituaries/Diana-Rose-Donner-Shonrock?obId=47075247#/obituaryInfo 

Submitted on behalf of Diana's many friends and colleagues, past and present, at ISU Library. Thank you, Diana, for all you taught us! 

-Susan Vega García 

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In honor of the Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary of ALA) in 2026, the Library History Round Table is hosting Librarians We Have Lost, Sesquicentennial Memories -1976-2026.  This collage of tributes seeks to honor librarians who died between 1976-2026.  The tributes are published to ALA Connect and a digital memorial on LHRT News & Notes.  

We invite tributes from anyone about any library worker who passed away between 1976-2026. To submit a tribute, please use the form at https://lhrt.news/librarians-we-have-lost-sesquicentennial-memories-1976-2026-2/ 

For questions or comments, please reach out to Dr. Kathleen McCook (kmccook@usf.edu) or Brett Spencer (dbs21@psu.edu).