ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


A pril 1 9 9 5 / 2 5 9

B o issé  r e c e iv e s  A CR L's h ig h e s t h o n o r

Joseph A. Boissé, university librarian at the 
University of California, Santa Barbara, has 
been named the 1995 ACRL 
Academic/Research Librarian 
of the Year. Boissé will receive 
the award ($ 3,000 and a cita­
tion) at a reception given in 
his honor from 4:30 to 6:00 
p.m. on Monday, Ju n e  26, 
1995, during the ALA Annual 
Conference in Chicago. Baker 
& Taylor Books sponsors this 
reception and donates the 
cash award and citation.

In nominating Boissé, his 
colleagues said, “His pioneer­
ing of bibliographic instruc­

Jo sep h  Ation as an integral part of the 
mission o f an academic library, the leader­
ship role he has played in mentoring minori­
ties in the field of academic librarianship, and 
his extensive contributions to professional or­
ganizations . . . place him among the out­
standing leaders in our profession.”

In selecting Boissé for this honor, the award 
committee said, “Dr. Boissé has contributed 
to academic librarianship through his service, 
publications, and public presentations, and has 
been responsible for the creation of model 
library programs in library instruction and li­
brary diversity. Within the libraries where he 
has worked, he is noted for creating a dy­
namic and supportive environment for staff 
which has led to an unusually professionally 
active staff and an outstanding group o f alumni 
who are playing leadership roles in academic 
libraries.” The committee added, “What is 
particularly impressive, however, about Dr. 
Boissé’s accomplishments is the number of 
librarians who comment on how he has men­
tored and coached them, making them better 
professionals and helping them achieve their 
career goals.”

Boissé’s career over the past 27 years has 
included positions as professor and director 
o f libraries at Temple University (1979–83), 
director of the library/learning center at the 
University o f Wisconsin-Parkside (1973–79), 
assistant state librarian and director of exten­
sion services at the Vermont Department of

Libraries (1971–73), assistant director o f the 
Lawrence University Library (1968-71), and 

regional librarian and special 
services coordinator for the 
Vermont Department of Librar­
ies (1967–68).

He has long been an inno­
vator in many ways. “At the 
University of Wisconsin-Park
side,” said the award commit­
tee, “Dr. Boissé was respon­
sib le for the creation  o f a 
competency-based library user 
ed u ca tio n  program  w hich 
served as a model for the pro­
fession for over a decade. At 
the University o f California- 

. Boissé Santa Barbara, Dr. Boissé ini­
tiated a Diversity Residency Program which 
stimulated the University of California System 
to initiate a similar system-wide program.”

Professionally active, Boissé has served as 
ACRL president (1988– 89), vice-president 
(1987–88), Salt Lake City National Conference 
Executive Committee chair (1990– 92), and on 
many committees including the Colleagues 
Committee (1 9 9 3 – 9 5 ), Appointments and 
Nominations (1983– 84), and the Continuing 
Education Committee (1979–80).

As a member o f ALA, Boissé has served 
on the ALA Council (1991– 1995), as chair of 
the Committee on Instruction in Library Use 
(1979–83), and on many other committees. 
He has also been active in the Association of 
Research Libraries, the Center for Research 
Libraries, the Research Libraries Group, ALA’s 
Library Administration and Management As­
sociation, the International Federation of Li­
brary Associations, and the California Library 
Association, among others.

The Academic/Research Librarian o f the 
Year Award is given annually to recognize 
an individual who is making an outstanding 
contribution to academic or research librari­
anship and library development. Previous 
winners include: Irene B. Hoadley (1994); 
William A. Moffett (1993); Carla Stoffle (1992); 
Richard De Gennaro (1991); Patricia Battin 
(1990); Jo hn P. McGowan (1989); Edward G. 
Holley (1988); and Duane Webster (1987).