"He received numerous accolades, including the ALISE Award for Professional Contributions to Library and Information Sciences Education (1993), the Medical Library Association's Eliot Prize (1988), and recognition for co-editing the best information science book of the year (1979)."
Thomas J. Galvin (1932 – 2004)
Thomas J. Galvin (December 30, 1932 – February 18, 2004) was an influential American librarian, educator, and leader in the field of library and information science. Born in Arlington, Massachusetts, he earned his bachelor's degree in English from Columbia University, a master's in library science from Simmons College, and a doctorate from Case Western Reserve University.
Galvin began his professional career in library positions in the 1950s before moving into academia. From 1962 to 1972, he held combined faculty and administrative roles at Simmons College's Graduate School of Library and Information Science, ultimately becoming associate dean and professor.
In 1974, Galvin became Dean of the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh, a position he held until 1985. During his tenure, he expanded the school's offerings, increased enrollment, diversified academic programs, and strengthened its reputation nationally.
Galvin was also deeply involved in professional leadership. He served as President of the American Library Association (ALA) from 1979–1980 and later as its Executive Director from 1985–1989. He played a significant role in shaping library policies, advocating for library education, and connecting professional organizations with academic institutions.
In 1989, Galvin returned to academia as a professor in the School of Information Science and Policy at the University at Albany–SUNY, where he oversaw the development of an interdisciplinary PhD in information science. He retired in 1999 and was named professor emeritus.
Throughout his career, Galvin was a prolific author, contributing to nearly 20 books and over 100 articles and reports. His work influenced research on library use, management, and education. He received numerous accolades, including the ALISE Award for Professional Contributions to Library and Information Sciences Education (1993), the Medical Library Association's Eliot Prize (1988), and recognition for co-editing the best information science book of the year (1979).
Galvin passed away in 2004 at the age of 71, leaving a legacy in library education and scholarship.
Selected Publications
Galvin, T. J. (1994). Rights in conflict: public policy in an information age. In New worlds in information and documentation: Proceedings of the 46th FID Conference and Congress (pp. 22-29).
Detlefsen, E. G., & Galvin, T. J. (1986). Education for health sciences/biomedical librarianship: past, present, future. Bulletin of the Medical Library Association, 74(2), 148.
Galvin, T. J. (1975). The Education of the New Reference Librarian. Library Journal.
Kent, A., & Galvin, T. J. (1977). Library resource sharing.
Galvin, T. J., & Kent, A. (1977). Use of a University Library Collection; A Progress Report on a Pittsburgh Study. Library journal.
Sources
https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/archives/?p=45868
https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/17510/19321
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Galvin
https://www.albany.edu/news/campus_news/2004/apr2004/obit_galvin.htm
Submitted by Stephen T. Bajjaly
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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.
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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