It is my pleasure to announce that Robert J. Lackie, Professor-Librarian at Rider University, is the recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Service Award, granted by the New Jersey Library Association’s College and University Section / Association of College and Research Libraries New Jersey chapter. This honor is awarded annually to an individual who, by his or her outstanding contributions, has directly enriched the profession of librarianship in New Jersey.

This award honors Robert’s leadership on behalf of libraries, librarians, and the library profession in New Jersey. Robert has served as Education Librarian and Co-Coordinator of the Research Instruction Program at Rider University since 1998, as well as Rider’s first Faculty-in-Residence from 1998-2002. Prior to 1998, he served as a librarian and/or instructor for Charleston Southern University, Trident Technical College, and the United States Air Force.

Robert has helped many librarians within his numerous educational and leadership roles since arriving in New Jersey: as trainer and evaluator for eight years with the NJ Train-the-Trainer Group; as an executive board member and/or officer for seven years each with the Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative and the Phi Delta Kappa International Trenton-Area Chapter; as an officer for several years each with the NJLA User Education Committee and Tri-state College Library Cooperative; and as an adjunct professor and frequent guest lecturer in Rutgers University’s MLIS Program. He is currently an academic library representative on the transitional executive board of the new LibraryLinkNJ statewide cooperative. Last but not least, his scholarship has meant that he is a sought-after presenter at library, education, and technology conferences and meetings where he has given over 500 talks, workshops, or webinars on a variety of librarian- and teacher-related topics, many in New Jersey. He has also been widely published within various professional and scholarly works, including his recently co-edited book, Teaching Generation M: A Handbook for Librarians and Educators (Neal-Schuman). For more information on Robert’s endeavors, feel free to visit his site: robertlackie.com

A formal presentation of the award will take place at the College and University Section’s luncheon at 12:30pm on Wednesday 4 May 2010 at the NJLA Conference at Ocean Place, Long Branch NJ. Please join the NJLA-CUS/ACRL-NJ Executive Board in offering Robert congratulations and appreciation for the many years he has dedicated to the library profession.

Sincerely,

Mark S. Thompson
Vice President/President-Elect
NJLA-CUS/ACRL NJ