Thomas F. Lahr, deputy associate
chief biologist for information, U.S. Geological Survey, has won the Library of
Congress’ 2007 Federal Librarian of the Year award. The award, which the Federal
Library and Information Center Committee of the Library of Congress presents each
fiscal year, honors innovation in library and information services. Lahr serves as a senior manager
in the USGS Biological Informatics Program, a program within the Department of the Interior. As
senior manager, he has led the development of ways to integrate and deliver biological-resource information.
He has also initiated and maintained USGS public and private partnerships with
a variety of organizations. FLICC honored Lahr and its other
award winners at the 25th Annual FLICC Forum on Federal Information Policies on
Sept. 12 at the Library of Congress in Washington,
D.C. At that time, the winners
formally received their awards from Librarian of Congress James H.
Billington. The awards identify the innovative
ways federal libraries, librarians and library technicians fulfill the information
demands of government, business, scholarly communities and the public. In giving Lahr his award, FLICC
honored his leadership role in many activities of the Commerce, Energy, NASA and
Defense Information Managers Group. It also noted Lahr’s contributions to the
development of the Science.gov Alliance. The Web-based system provides reliable
information about science and technology from a wide range of U.S. government
organizations. As co-chair of Alliance,
Lahr oversaw the site’s expansion, funding and content development. FLICC also highlighted Lahr’s participation
in international organizations, such as the International Council for
Scientific and Technical Information. During 2007, Lahr led an ICSTI project to
develop a forum on international-science portals and create momentum for what
is now the WorldWideScience.org. A
global-science gateway, WorldWideScience.org follows the model of Science.gov:
It enables users to search the best databases and information from
organizations around the world via a single query. “We’re so pleased and proud that Tom has
gained this honor,” said Sue Haseltine, the USGS associate director for biology.
“It’s a tribute to his considerable talents and hard work that also speaks
highly of the efforts of so many of the information professionals he works with
at USGS, other government agencies and numerous organizations around the
globe.” Before coming to USGS in 1995,
Lahr held senior information-management posts at the departments of Energy and
Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Lahr received both his 1977
bachelor’s degree in American history and his 1978 master’s degree in
library and information science from Catholic
University, Washington,
D.C. His honors and awards include Meritorious Service Award (DOI); Unit
Award for Excellence of Service (DOI); and Cooperative External Achievement
Award (NASA). He also received multiple special act or special achievement
awards. Lahr’s academic honors include membership in Pi Gamma Mu (the social
science honor society) and Phi Alpha Theta (the history honor society). FLICC fosters excellence in
federal library and information services through interagency cooperation. In
operation since 1965, its headquarters are within the Library of Congress. FLICC
makes recommendations on federal library and information policies, programs and
procedures to federal agencies and to others concerned with libraries and
information centers. USGS, which has its headquarters
in Reston, Va., is DOI’s scientific agency. The USGS
Biological Informatics Program carries out the following mission: Create the
informatics framework, provide the scientific content, and develop the public
and private partnerships necessary for the understanding and stewardship of our
nation’s biological resources.
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