"He demonstrated a strong commitment to intellectual freedom and to confronting difficult issues within the profession, supporting writers who addressed topics such as racism, marginalized communities, and the preservation of cultural memory." --Dustin Conlon
Librarians We Have Lost
Leonard Kniffel: 1947-2021
Leonard Kniffel (1947–2021) was a librarian, poet, journalist, and author. Born and raised in Michigan as a descendant of Polish immigrants, he attended Armada Area Schools from his first day of kindergarten through his high school graduation. In 1970, after graduating from Oakland University, Kniffel began his career in public libraries as a page at the Detroit Public Library. While working there, he earned master’s degrees in English and Library Science from Wayne State University in 1975.
Kniffel worked at the Detroit Public Library for eighteen years, where he was actively involved in programming and outreach. In 1988, he joined the staff of American Libraries, the flagship magazine of the American Library Association (ALA) in Chicago. In 1989, he became managing editor of the magazine and later served as editor-in-chief from 1996 to 2011. During retirement, Kniffel served as executive director of the Polish American Librarians Association (PALA) and as a board member of the Polish Museum of America (PMA) in Chicago.
During his time at the Detroit Public Library, Kniffel also began his own publishing operation, Fallen Angel Press, which published a dozen poetry chapbooks between 1974 and 1982. His interest in grassroots literary publishing also informed his article “Michigan Little Magazines” (1983), which examined the role of small independent literary magazines and presses in supporting emerging writers across the state. He reviewed books for Library Journal and other local newspapers and magazines. Kniffel was a founder of the Poetry Resource Center of Michigan, editor of the PRC Newsletter, and an organizer of the annual Michigan Poetry Festival.
While at American Libraries, Kniffel modernized the magazine’s digital presence. Under his leadership, the publication launched a vibrant new website, established ALA JobLIST, an online library career center, created American Libraries Direct, and adopted a web-first publishing model. He wrote numerous news reports, feature articles, and editorials on issues he cared deeply about, including censorship and public service. Kniffel also spent time behind the camera, notably photographing members of the ALA’s Gay and Lesbian Task Force marching in the Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco.
Over the course of ten years, Kniffel interviewed prominent library advocates for Reading with the Stars: A Celebration of Books and Libraries, part of the ALA’s “@ your library” public awareness campaign. Some of his most notable interviews included President Barack Obama, Julie Andrews, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bill Gates, Laura Bush, and basketball legend Kareem AbdulJabbar.
One of Kniffel’s proudest accomplishments was the documentary Loss and Recovery: Librarians Bear Witness to September 11, 2001, which he co-produced with Pamela Goodes. The documentary explored the impact of the September 11 attacks on libraries located in lower Manhattan. After that experience, he noted that he “traveled to many parts of the world to try to understand what librarians and archivists faced in trying to preserve the historical record.”
Raised by his Polish grandmother, Kniffel was proudly Polish American. In 2011, he became a member of the Jan Karski Centennial Campaign steering committee. Reflecting on his heritage, he wrote: “As I began to understand the distorted history of Poland that resulted from its occupation by the Soviet Union after World War II, it became more and more important to me to set the record straight. Growing up Polish in America after the war meant renouncing our heritage, and since I was raised by my Polish grandmother, I have spent the latter part of my life trying to understand what really happened during the Holocaust and to help in some small way to make sure the stories were told and the truth known.”
Kniffel retired from the American Library Association in 2012. In 2014, he became executive director of the PALA and served as a member of the board of directors of PMA. He devoted much of his time and energy to these organizations as well as to his blog, PolishSon.com. In 2015, he published Poland & the Holocaust, an extensive reading list, on the PALA website. In 2020, PALA became an official affiliate of the American Library Association.
Kniffel also authored several books reflecting his interests in libraries, reading culture, and Polish heritage. His writing often blended professional insight with personal reflection on family history, literature, and the role of libraries in civic life.
Selected Publications by Leonard Kniffel
Kniffel, L. (2005). A Polish Son in the Motherland: An American’s Journey Home. Texas A&M University Press.
Kniffel, L. (2013). Musicals on the Silver Screen: A Guide to the Must-See Movie Musicals. Huron Street Press.
Kniffel, L. (2014). Reading with the Stars: A Celebration of Books and Libraries. Skyhorse.
Kniffel, L. (2017). Busia: Seasons on the Farm with My Polish Grandmother. Leonard Kniffel.
Kniffel, L. (2019). Busia: School Days on the Farm With My Polish Grandmother. Leonard Kniffel.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Kniffel was widely remembered by colleagues and friends for his generosity, curiosity, and quiet leadership. Many described him as a supportive mentor who encouraged new voices and welcomed creative ideas, helping shape the careers of numerous writers and librarians. Others recalled his warmth, humor, and deep love of conversation, literature, travel, and food. Throughout his career, he demonstrated a strong commitment to intellectual freedom and to confronting difficult issues within the profession, supporting writers who addressed topics such as racism, marginalized communities, and the preservation of cultural memory.
Leonard Kniffel passed away on March 19th, 2021, of pancreatic cancer. To those who knew him personally, Kniffel was not only an editor and journalist but also a colleague, mentor, and friend whose kindness and integrity left a lasting impression on the library community.
References:
Kniffel, L. (1983). Michigan little magazines. Serials Review, 9(2), 37–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/0098-7913(83)90025-4
Leonard J. Kniffel. Leonard J. Kniffel obituary. Simplicity Funeral & Cremation Care. https://www.simplicitycremationcare.com/obituaries/leonard-j-kniffel
Poplawska, P. (2021, March 29). Sad News To Share. Polish American Librarians Association. https://palalib.org/news/sad-news-to-share/
Remembering Leonard Kniffel. (2021, March 24). American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/remembering-leonard-kniffel/
--Submitted by Dustin Conlon
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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, a digital memorial on LHRT News & Notes, and ALA's institutional repository (ALAIR).
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).
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Brett Spencer
Reference Librarian
Thun Library, Penn State Berks
He/Him/His
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