Dr. Clara M. Chu, Mortenson Distinguished Professor and director of the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs and an affiliated faculty at The iSchool of Illinois, has been selected as the 2018 recipient of the American Library Association’s Beta Phi Mu Award. This award is given in recognition of the achievement of a library school faculty member or another individual for distinguished service to education for librarianship. This annual award, which consists of $1,000 and a citation of achievement, is sponsored by the Beta Phi Mu International Library Science Honor Society.

“This is truly unexpected and I am truly honored,” Dr. Chu said. “Working as an educator and supporting the intellectual curiosity and growth of students and others is a privilege, especially in librarianship where the information and services we provide empower individuals and allow them to thrive.”

Dr. Chu’s impressive multilingual contributions to the field include her extensive publication record of articles, over 40 refereed articles and book chapters, as well as her co-authored book, Educating the Profession: 40 years of the IFLA Section on Education and Training. She is a highly sought-after speaker, as well as an active consultant. Dr. Chu has successfully led at least sixty grants, and many of them contribute to her interests in diversity and multiculturalism.

Dr. Chu’s work is notable for extending beyond the classroom, and most recently in support of Southeast Asian refugees. Her background in language, literature, and psychology has helped support the local, national, and international community. Her transnational, ethnic minority and multilingual background has been especially important to her students as they develop their own courses of study and research. She has been the recipient of many awards, but her greatest reward comes from the respect and appreciation she has earned from her students, colleagues, and community members as well as her commitment to being an encouraging educator.

The Beta Phi Mu Award will be presented on Sunday, June 24, 2018, at the American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans.

More information about the Beta Phi Mu Award is available at the ALA website (www.ala.org).

This post has been adapted from an ALA Press Release