THE CARL Outstanding Member Award was presented to two highly deserving individuals, Cynthia Jahns and Bonnie Gratch-Lindauer, at the CARL Biennial Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2004, in Pasadena. This award, formerly the Outstanding Member of the Year Award, recognizes the achievements and contributions of a member of CARL. Activities that may fulfill these criteria for the award include program planning; leadership; accomplishment of special projects; publications and public speaking on behalf of CARL; guidance for others in the profession; and evidence of dedication to the needs, development, and advancement of California’s academic and research libraries, the librarians and staff who work in them, and similar service at the national level. Following is the text of the presentations:

“Our first awardee has served CARL admirably over the last ten years in significant leadership roles. The list of offices she has held include chair of the committee on organization, chair of the elections committee, chair of the awards committee, conference local arrangements chair, secretary/treasurer, vice president, and president. As treasurer, she was the first to develop forms for CARL members’ use in program budgeting and reimbursement. She performed not just one, but two successful stints as conference local arrangements chair. Her ability to organize and track details was proven by the fact that she changed jobs during one of the years she served as local arrangements chair, becoming, in effect, no longer local. As chair of the committee on organization, she helped to perform one of the most comprehensive examinations of CARL’s bylaws and organizational structure, leading to thoughtful and thorough recommendations for improving and updating them. Also, as part of committee work, she created a Conference Planning Manual and an Elections Manual. From this description, I’m sure many of you recognize this highly professional, dedicated advocate for California librarians, this colleague, for many, friend, this map librarian from UC-Santa Cruz, Cynthia Jahns.

“Cynthia was nominated by her CARL colleague, Deborah Schaeffer. On behalf of CARL, and with thanks to Deborah, I’m pleased to present the Outstanding Member Award to Cynthia Jahns.

“I have the pleasure of making another presentation.

“This librarian also has an extensive record of contributions to CARL. She has been a CARL campus liaison for over 7 years at her home institution. She has been a presenter and organizer at CARL programs, pre-conferences, and conferences, including conferences in 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2004. She has been a member of the conference planning committee, a member of the research award committee, and a two-time recipient of the CARL Research Award.

“She is highly respected for her over 20 articles published on topics related to information literacy, library performance outcomes and measures, and student learning assessment. Her work has benefited all libraries and librarians in California, and extends, through her publications and her work in ACRL, to our profession on a national basis. It does not matter what type of work you may do as a librarian or research professional; you know her work, and you’ve probably read and even marked up a copy of her article, “Defining and measuring the library’s impact on campus-wide outcomes,” published in College and Research Libraries. She’s also highly respected by her colleagues who appreciate her mentoring and attention to their development as professionals. Of course, you know I’m talking about the contributions to CARL and the profession of Bonnie Gratch-Lindauer, of City College of San Francisco.

“Bonnie was nominated by her City College colleagues, Sirous Monajami and Brian Lym. On behalf of CARL, and with thanks to Sirous and Brian, I’m pleased to present the Outstanding Member Award to Bonnie Gratch-Lindauer.”

The Award Committee consisted of Jean Purnell, Chairperson, SueEllen Cox and Lise Snyder, members, and Ron Rodriguez, CARL president, ex officio.

Jean Purnell, University of the Pacific
Awards Committee Chairperson
Pasadena, April, 2004