Barbara J. Ford | |
---|---|
President of the American Library Association | |
In office 1997–1998 | |
Preceded by | Mary R. Somerville |
Succeeded by | Ann K. Symons |
Personal details | |
Nationality | American |
Education | |
Occupation | Librarian |
Barbara J. Ford is an American librarian who served as president of the American Library Association from 1997 to 1998.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, a master's degree in International Relations from Tufts University and a master's degree in library science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.[2]
Ford served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama and Nicaragua.[3]
Her professional positions include assistant commissioner for central library services at the Chicago Public Library; executive director of the Virginia Commonwealth University libraries; and associate library director at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She has also served in several positions at the University of Illinois at Chicago.[4]
Ford was Director of Mortenson Center for International Library Programs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign libraries from 2003 to 2014.[5]
Ford served as an elected member of the Governing Board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions from 2005 to 2009.[4] She served as a member of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO from 2011 to 2013.
Ford's ALA Presidential theme was "Libraries: Global Reach – Local Touch" during 1997–1998.[6] She edited a volume, Libraries: Global Reach Local Touch, that included her inaugural speech.[7][8]
Ford was president of the Association of College and Research Libraries from 1990 to 1991.[4]
The American Librarian Association recognized Barbara Ford's many contributions to the library community by including her in its ALA Legacy Society Honor Roll.[3]
Ford was the inaugural speaker for the Jean E. Coleman Library Outreach Lecture in 2000.[9]
She received the John Ames Humphry/OCLC/Forest Press Award for significant contribution to international librarianship.[10]
In 2016, the Illinois Library Association recognized her as an Illinois Library Luminary for her dedication to the field.[11]
She received the Sheth Distinguished Faculty Award for International Achievement, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign recognizing her work in teaching, research, and public service in the international arena.[12]