We are please to share this additional tribute, a memorial resolution, to Pamela M. Bluh. The first tribute is available on the Librarians We Have Lost digital memorial at https://lhrt.news/librarians-we-have-lost-sesquicentennial-memories-1976-2026/
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Tribute 2 (Submitted by Rachel Fleming, December 8, 2025)
Memorial Resolution Honoring Pamela Bluh van Oosten (1942-2025)
Whereas Pamela Bluh was a dedicated and energetic leader, an inspiring mentor, and exemplary example of professional service to members of the Association for Collections and Technical Services and its predecessor the Resources and Technical Services Division of the American Library Association, during more than thirty years of membership;
Whereas Pamela Bluh spent much of her career at the Thurgood Marshall Law Library at the University of Maryland, where she championed open access publishing and managed the Law School’s institutional repository;
Whereas Pamela Bluh actively participated in the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), serving as its president (2007/2008), chair of the Fundraising Committee and the Continuing Education Committee, President’s Program Planning Committee and chair of the Continuing Resources Section (CRS), senior co-planner of the ALCTS Midwinter Symposia, editor of the ALCTS Papers on Library Technical Services and Collections, and on many other committees;
Whereas Pamela Bluh also contributed to the library literature through numerous publications including serving on the editorial board of Serials Review, editing ALCTS’ first e-book, co-editing several print books and numerous articles and reports in various journals;
Whereas Pamela Bluh made exceptional contributions to other professional organizations including Library Administration and Management Association, North American Aleph Users’ Group, the American Association of Law Libraries, the Maryland Library Association. and the Society for Scholarly Publishing;
Whereas Pamela Bluh was recognized with several prestigious ALA ALCTS awards: the Bowker/Ulrich’s Serials Librarianship Award (2004), two ALCTS Presidential Citations (2024 and 2010), and the Ross Atkinson Lifetime Achievement Award (2012);
Whereas Pamela Bluh’s generosity, kindness, dedication, and passion will be missed by all who knew her; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA), on behalf of its members:
1. Honors the life and leadership of our friend and colleague, Pamela Bluh, and thank her for her dedication and excellent service; and
2. Extends its deepest sympathy to her husband and family.
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Brett Spencer
Reference Librarian
Thun Library, Penn State Berks
He/Him/His
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