Cape Coral, FL (February 2011) – Iris L. Hanney, information industry veteran and president of Unlimited Priorities, has announced the formation of the Robert F. Asleson Memorial ALA Conference Grant. The grant honors the memory of Bob Asleson, late founder and president of The Redalen Group, for his many valuable contributions to the library community. Annual monetary awards will subsidize attendance at either the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting or the Annual Conference.
Candidates for the Master of Library Science degree candidates are eligible to apply for the grant and successful students will be selected based on economic need and the quality of an essay written according to criteria set by the grant’s board of directors. Ms. Hanney will serve as president of the board, which consists of individuals with deep ties to both Bob Asleson and the information community.
Robert Freeman Asleson
Robert Freeman Asleson – “Bob A.” to his friends and colleagues – was one of the most creative and enterprising executives in the information industry. An engineer, lawyer, publishing CEO, advisor and guide to countless members of the profession, Bob’s 50-year career spanned both traditional and innovative technologies, from reference books and microform to CD-ROMs and to online databases. Bob held presidential positions with R.R. Bowker of the Xerox Publishing Group, Information Handling Services, International Thomson Information, Inc. and The Library Corporation. He became chairman of Paratext in 2002, and also was president of The Redalen Group, a private consulting practice having projects and partnerships with a number of information companies. Additionally, Bob served on many information industry organization boards.
This award is particularly appropriate as Bob was present at virtually every ALA conference from the mid-1960s through 2008. He regarded conferences as opportunities to connect with people – both established colleagues and new acquaintances – and to be exposed to the latest ideas and industry developments. It was said of him that “He never met a trade show he didn’t like.” This award will help provide the same exposure and experience for the selected students as they prepare for their careers in Library Science.
This is a fitting way to remember this giant of the industry. Bob touched countless lives during his long career, and this award will continue to provide support for future members of the industry he loved.
Jay Jordan, president and CEO, OCLC, and advisor to the board, observed, “This is a fitting way to remember this giant of the industry. Bob touched countless lives during his long career, and this award will continue to provide support for future members of the industry he loved.”
Speaking for the Asleson family Bob’s daughter, Robyn Des Roches, responded, “Thank you to everyone involved for their diligent work in creating this grant. I know my dad would be deeply honored and grateful. So are all of us in the family.”
The board of directors is seeking both corporate and individual donations in support of this project. It believes that exposure to the programs, seminars, contacts and other conference benefits will foster an on-going love of, and dedication to, the cause of librarianship in students who otherwise would be unable to attend, reflecting the values exhibited by Bob Asleson throughout his life and long professional career.
Complete details of the grant, including information on donation participation, are available on the Asleson Grant website. Several levels of support are indicated, and all donations are fully tax-deductible.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting:
Iris L. Hanney, Chairman of the Board
Robert F. Asleson Memorial ALA Conference Grant
1930 SW 48th Lane
Cape Coral, FL 33914
239-549-2384
info@aslesongrant.org
©Unlimited Priorities LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Comments are closed.