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BCALA Founder,
E.J. Josey |
Dr. E. J. Josey was elected to honorary membership in the American
Library Association (ALA) in action taken by the ALA Council
at the ALA 2002 Midwinter Meeting, held January 18-23, 2002
in New Orleans. Honorary membership, ALA's highest honor,
is conferred in recognition of outstanding contributions of
lasting importance to libraries and librarianship.
Josey, Professor Emeritus, Department of Library and Information Science, School of
Library and Information Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, was honored "in
recognition of his tireless commitment to the association, to equal access to
information resources, and to the education and employment of librarians."
A noted administrator, author, educator, leader, librarian and scholar, Josey has
been a life-long advocate for civil rights, human rights and equal opportunity for
librarians of color, as well as a mentor to librarians of all races and ethnic
backgrounds. Recognized as the founder of the Black Caucus of the ALA, he has been a
champion for the eradication of racial bias from library systems and professional
organizations throughout his career.
Josey began his long and distinguished career at Savannah State University, where he
served as instructor of Social Sciences and History from 1954-1955. From 1955-1959, he
was director of the Library of Delaware State College; and from 1959-1966, he was Chief
Librarian and Associate Professor at Savannah State University. Josey has served as an
Associate in the Bureau of Academic and Research Libraries, New York State Education
Department, Division of Library Development; and Chief, Bureau of Specialist Library
Services, New York State Library. In 1986, he joined the School of Library and
Information Sciences, Department of Library and Information Science at the University of
Pittsburgh, where he educated and mentored library science students until his
retirement.
Josey is the author of more than 400 articles in library, educational and history
journals. He has written and edited 12 books in the field of library science, including
"The Black Librarian in America" (1970); "The Black Librarian in America Revisited"
(1994); and "The Handbook of Black Librarianship," which he co-edited with Ann Allen
Schockley (1977) and Marva L. DeLoach (2d ed., 2000).
He has been a member of the ALA for nearly half a century and served as the
association's president in 1984-85. He was a member of the ALA Council for 29 years
and has held numerous other positions of leadership in ALA. He is the recipient of many
honors and awards, including a number of awards from the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); the first annual Award for Distinguished Service
in Librarianship from the School of Library and Information Science, State University of
New York at Albany; and the Joseph W. Lippincott Award bestowed by ALA in 1980. In 1985,
a Capital Tribute was presented in Washington, D.C. by Congressman Major Owens and the
Congressional Black Caucus Brain Trust for his contributions to the profession and his
leadership as ALA President.
Josey will received his Honorary Membership plaque in June 2002 during the Opening
General Session of the ALA Annual Conference in Atlanta.
Biography & Background
E. J. Josey
(California Librarians Black Caucus)
Other Josey News
ALA Honors E.J. Josey(view BCALA announcement)
ALA names Josey Honorary Member (view
ALA announcement)
ACRL Honors E.J. Josey:
On Monday, June 23, 2003 the Association of College and Research
Libraries honored BCALA Founder E.J. Josey with a resolution
that recognizes his leadership in the profession, his contributions
to library science education, his leadership in ALA, and
his role in serving as a role model and mentor for many
librarians. In addition, ACRL is recognizing Dr. Josey by
naming the 2003 and future ACRL funded Spectrum Scholar
Scholarships, the ACRL E.J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Scholarships.
