With apologies for duplication --
David Miller
Levin Library, Curry College
Milton, Mass.
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ALCTS announces Margaret Mann Citation recipient
Barbara Tillett, Chief, Cataloging Policy and Support Office at the Library
of Congress, is the recipient of the 2004 Margaret Mann Citation presented
by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS)
Cataloging and Classification Section (CCS) of the American Library
Association (ALA).
The award is a citation and a $2,000 scholarship donated in the recipient's
honor by OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., to the library school of
the winner's choice. It recognizes outstanding professional achievement in
cataloging or classification either through publication of significant
professional literature, participation in professional cataloging
associations, demonstrated excellence in teaching cataloging, or valuable
contributions to the technical improvement of cataloging and classification
and/or the introduction of a new technique of recognized importance.
The Margaret Mann Citation Committee is pleased to present this award to
Barbara B. Tillett for her extraordinary contributions to both the theory
and the practice of cataloging. In particular, the Committee notes her work
developing and explaining IFLA's Functional Requirements of Bibliographic
Records (FRBR), implementing the Library of Congress's first integrated
library system, spearheading work on the Virtual International Authority
File, leading IFLA's efforts to develop an international cataloging code,
and contributing substantively to a new edition of the Anglo-American
Cataloguing Rules (AACR). Her achievements in all four of the award's
criteria have given shape and direction to the work of many others in our
profession, catalogers and non-catalogers alike.
The FRBR conceptual model represents a significant advance in cataloging
theory and is now being used as the foundation of much theoretical and
practical work to improve user access to materials in libraries and in
other, non-library collections. FRBR concepts, as well as reshaping
cataloging rules and practice, are now being extended to authority records
and are being applied practically in increasing numbers of library and
information management systems.
The Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) is a conceptual and
technological building block for both a powerful cataloging tool and for the
practical development of the semantic Web. The VIAF project attempts to link
authority records from around the world and make them available via the
Internet, allowing national or regional variations in authorized forms to
co-exist and supporting worldwide users' needs to see names in their
preferred language, script, and spelling. As Edward T. O'Neill, Consulting
Research Scientist at OCLC noted, Dr. Tillett "distinguished herself from
the other visionaries by tirelessly campaigning to convince others of the
merits of her idea and obtaining their commitments to pursue the vision."
At a time when many are challenging the relevance and utility of cataloging,
Dr. Tillett has breathed new life into the field, centering her work on
meeting the needs of the library user through innovations in library
technology and cataloging concepts. Her work represents an essential bridge
between the world of traditional catalogers and that of metadata librarians,
enabling each to understand and appreciate the importance of the other. "Her
work has greatly contributed to the concepts that are now transforming the
conceptual basis of cataloging, cataloging practices from rule making to
OPAC design, and the application of cataloging concepts and practices to
metadata for digital materials on the Internet," said Matthew Beacom,
Catalog Librarian for Networked Information Resources at Yale University.
"The combination of innovative conceptual breakthrough with the insight to
see their practical applications typifies ... Dr. Tillett's greatest
strength," wrote John. C. Attig, Authority Control Librarian at Penn State.
Attig further noted that, "Because of this ability ... Dr. Tillett provides
inspired leadership, encouragement of the creative work going on ... and a
commitment to redefining the conceptual foundations of cataloging in new and
exciting ways."
Dr. Tillett holds a master's degree in library science from the University
of Hawaii, Honolulu and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los
Angeles.
The Margaret Mann Citation will be presented on Sunday June 27th 2004 at the
ALCTS Awards Ceremony during the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando.
