Mann wins 2012 ACRL/IS Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award

Barbara J. Mann, assistant director for public services and instruction and information literacy librarian at the University of Maryland University College, is the winner of the Association of College and Research Libraries Instruction Section’s Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award. The award honors Miriam Dudley, whose efforts in the field of information literacy led to the formation of IS. The honor recognizes a librarian who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of instruction in a college or research library environment.

Mann received her M.L.I.S. from the University of South Carolina in 1995.

Mann will receive her $1,000 award, along with a plaque, at the IS program at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2012 during the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.

"The award acknowledges Mann’s significant contributions to academic library instruction, particularly in the area of online learning, an increasingly important component of information literacy instruction," said IS Miriam Dudley Award Chair Polly D. Boruff-Jones, director of library and information services at Drury University. "As part of a robust online information literacy program, Mann successfully created engaging tutorials and developed synchronous instruction via Web conferencing for University of Maryland University College students, who may be taking classes almost anywhere, from Adelphi, Md. to Baghdad, Iraq. The Miriam Dudley Award committee congratulates Mann on her accomplishments and strongly agrees with the praise offered by her nominators: she is a committed advocate for information literacy, an innovative leader, and a commendable professional."

Mann was cited for her commitment to student success evidenced by her leadership of a robust information literacy program, including her success in providing information literacy instruction through the UMUC distance education program. Not only has she created engaging online tutorials and linked instruction modules with the UMUC course management system, but also conducts synchronous instruction sessions using Web conferencing. The award committee cited her work as a model for other programs nationally and internationally.