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.