2025 Award
Congratulations to Ruben F. Aragón, MLS 1982, who is this year's Raymond Von Dran Memorial Award recipient. This honor is bestowed each year to an alum of Catholic University's School/Department of Library and Information Science who, through their contributions to the library and information science profession, has exhibited the qualities that Dr. Von Dran was noted for throughout his career: innovation, collaboration, and leadership.
Ruben Aragón has served at the Thomas C. Donnelly Library at New Mexico Highlands University for the past 40 years (including 34 years as its director), before retiring earlier this year.
He earned his MLS from Catholic University in 1982, and worked in DC for eight years at the National Agricultural Library before returning to his home state of New Mexico, where he has proven a steadfast advocate for libraries and librarians.
He has served in multiple leadership roles with the New Mexico Consortium of Academic Libraries (NMCAL), where he was particularly pivotal in securing General Obligation bonds to provide funding to academic, public, school, and tribal libraries throughout the state. He also served as vice president of the New Mexico Library Association (NMLA) from 2022 to 2023, and was recognized at their most recent conference for his lifetime of contributions and commitment to that association.
Ruben has served multiple terms on New Mexico’s state advisory council on libraries, and on the Board of Directors of Amigos Library Services, a non-profit network that supports 800 libraries through the sharing of collections, services, and professional development opportunities. He was named New Mexico Academic Librarian of the Year in 2013, was awarded the New Mexico Library Leadership Award by the New Mexico Library Association in 2021, and was recently recognized by the New Mexico State Senate for his public service and dedication to New Mexico and its residents.
Purpose
The Raymond Von Dran Memorial Award is an award open to Catholic University School of Library and Information Science/Department of Library and Information Science alumni, instituted in the memory of Raymond Von Dran, who served as the second dean of the school (1983-87). Von Dran's final position was Dean of the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University and his obituary can be seen here: http://digital-scholarship.org/digitalkoans/2007/07/23/obituary-raymond-von-dran/.
Selection Criteria
The Library and Information Science Alumni Association will grant this award during its annual Elizabeth W. Stone Lecture.
We are seeking nominations of alumni who, through their contributions to the library and information science profession, have exhibited the qualities Von Dran was noted for throughout his career: innovation, collaboration, and leadership.
Raymond Von Dran Memorial Award Recipients
(Jobs noted were positions held at time of the award)
2024 - Angela J. Kinney, M.S.L.I.S. 1993, Deputy Director of the Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate. Library of Congress
2023 - Kimberly Burke Sweetman, M.S.L.I.S. 1996, Associate Dean of the University Library at the University of New Hampshire
2022 - Andrew K. Pace, Executive Director of the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions library consortium
2021 - Laurie Beyer Hall, Superintendent of Documents for the Federal Depository Library and Managing Director of Library Services and Content Management at the Government Publishing Office
2019 - Janet L. Crowther, Assistant Library Director of the Williamsburg Regional Library
2018 - Kent Boese, Manager of Library Services, Wiley Rein LLP
2017 - Mary Augusta Thomas, Deputy Director, Smithsonian Institution Libraries
2016 - Barry Trott, Special Projects Director, Williamsburg Regional Library
2015 - Richard James King, Chief, Information Resources and Services Branch and Information Architect, National Institutes of Health
2014 - Barrie L. Howard, Information Technology Specialist at The Library of Congress
2013 - Martin Kalfatovic, Associate Director of Digital Services at the Smithsonian Institution Libraries and Program Director for the Biodiversity Heritage Library
2012 - James Patrick Timony, Adaptive Technology Librarian, Adaptive Services Division, DC Public Library
2011 - Lea J. Uhre, Director, Executive Office of the President Library
2010 - Barbara L. Post, Manager of Information Services, Transportation Research Board
2009 - Lynn Scott Cochrane, Director, Denison University Library
2008 - Kimberly Ferguson, Head of Information Services, U.S. Senate Library