Dr. Margaret E. Chisholm (1921-1999) was a visionary boundary spanning librarian who served as ALA President from 1988-1989.
She established the ALA Presidential Committee on Information Literacy with three purposes:
- (1) to define information literacy within the higher literacies and its importance to student performance, lifelong learning, and active citizenship;
- (2) to design one or more models for information literacy development appropriate to formal and informal learning environments throughout people's lifetimes; and
- (3) to determine implications for the continuing education and development of teachers.
She also presided over the first Library Card Sign-Up month in 1987.
Chisholm was Dean at the University of Maryland College of Library and Information Science from 1969-1975 . She was University of Washington vice-president for University Relations and Development from 1975 to 1981 ( the university's first female vice-president) and Dean at the University of Washington Graduate School of Library and Information Science from 1981-1992. She also served on the executive board of Washington University's television station, KCTS.
Margaret Chisholm was an educational broadcaster, public television board member and board of trustees member of the Association for Public Broadcasting (APB). She also served as vice president of the APB lobbying arm National Association of Public Television Stations' Executive Committee from 1979 to 1983. Her work is highlighted in the "Women in Media" archives at the University of Maryland.
Other leadership positions included:
- chair, American Library Association (ALA) U.S./Mexico Libraries Liaison Sub-Committee,
- International Relations Committee (1989-1991);
- chair, Reference Information Development Committee of the White House Conference on Library and Information Services (1990); and
- member of the steering committee of the Governor's (WA) Conference on Library and Information Science (1990).
Selected Publications:
- Lane, Nancy D., and Margaret E. Chisholm, eds. 1991. Information Technology : Design and Applications. Boston: G.K. Hall.
- Chisholm, Margaret E. 1988. "Visionary Leaders for 2020: Developing Leadership in Human Resources for Library and Information Science." Illinois Libraries 70 (8): 544–49.
- Chisholm, Margaret E., and Donald P. Ely. 1976. Media Personnel in Education : A Competency Approach. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
- Chisholm, Margaret E., and Donald P. Ely. 1974. A General Information System for Educational Technology (ETGIS) : A Conceptual Scheme. Washington: U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education : For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
Sources:
Obituary, Seattle Times. "Dr. Margaret Chisholm, A Leading Librarian."
Margaret E. Chisholm Papers -University of Maryland.
Margaret E. Chisholm Papers- University of Washington
Miller, Marilyn Lea (2003). Pioneers and Leaders in Library Services to Youth: A Biographical Dictionary. Libraries Unlimited. pp. 30–32.
Margaret E. Chisholm - Wikipedia
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Kathleen de la Peña McCook
Distinguished University Professor
School of Information
University of South Florida
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