Dr. Kathleen de la Peña McCook

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
CONTACT:
Roxana Benavides, Chair
REFORMA Dr. Arnulfo D. Trejo Librarian of The Year (LOTY) Award & the Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement (LAA) Award Committee
awards@reforma.org
 

 
REFORMA is proud to announce the recipient of the 2016 Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement (LAA) Award, Dr. Kathleen de la Peña McCook.
 
A librarian who has been a mentor and guide for many Latino librarians today, Dr. Kathleen de la Peña McCook is a pioneer in the REFORMA family and the field of
librarianship. Dr. de la Peña McCook is a lifetime member of REFORMA and has been a leader in the development of the REFORMA de Florida chapter.
 
Dr. de la Peña McCook began her career as a librarian in 1971 as a Reference Librarian at the Elmhurst College Library. In 1972 she became Director of Public Services at Rebecca Crown Library at Dominican University. Her career moved to lecturer the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign and University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1976 and in 1980 Dr. de la Peña McCook became Assistant Professor at UI Urbana-Champaign. In 1983 Dr. de la Peña McCook continued on to become a professor at Louisiana State University’s School of Library and Information Science. In 1992 Dr. de la Peña McCook began her career with the University of South Florida, School of Library and Information Science as a Professor and became Distinguished University Professor in 2001 and currently holds this position.
 
Throughout her extensive career, Dr. Kathleen de la Peña McCook has authored and co-authored a vast amount of publications that have been instrumental in the academic and professional advancement of many librarians.
 
Additionally, Dr. de la Peña McCook is a celebrated librarian who over the course of her beautiful career has earned numerous recognitions and awards including, but not limited to: Equality Award (ALA, 1987); Catalyst for Change Award [Futas Award] (ALA, 1998); Latino Librarian of the Year [LOTY] (REFORMA, 2002); Hispanic Heritage Award (USF, 2003); Achievement in Library Diversity Research (ALA, 2004); ALA Emerging Leaders (ALA, 2008); Carnegie Book Award (2014-2015).

Colleagues say this about Dr. Kathleen de la Peña McCook:
 
“A life-long member of REFORMA, an untiring and tenacious defender of the rights of our people to quality library services, a brilliant scholar and library feminist leader; make Dr. McCook the most deserving candidate of this Award.” – Lucia Gonzalez
 
“Her role in mentoring and supporting students of minority backgrounds to thrive in the profession, her research and publications on services to Latinos and minorities, and her tireless emphasis on advocacy and active participation will leave a legacy in REFORMA as an organization.” – Alicia K. Long
 
“Her research areas have brought to prominence the needs of diverse individuals and groups and cover the gamut of human rights and social justice in the library, cultural communities, women’s issues, and more.” – Diane Austin
 
The Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA) was created to recognize those who have achieved excellence in librarianship over an extended (over 20 years) period of service and who have made significant and lasting contributions to REFORMA, as well as to the Latino and the Spanish-speaking communities.
 
Dr. Kathleen de la Peña McCook will be honored at the 2016 American Library Association (ALA) annual conference in Orlando, Florida at the 2016 REFORMA Pachanga! on:
   
The REFORMA Dr. Arnulfo D. Trejo Librarian of the Year (LOTY) Award & the Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement (LAA) Award Committee

• Roxana Benavides, (Chair)
• Beatriz Guevara - REFORMA Vice-President
• Silvia Cisneros – REFORMA, Past President
• Jean Hatfield, Advisor
• Libbhy Romero, Member

For more information about the LAA and REFORMA, visit  www.reforma.org

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