SLIS dean wins highest information science honor

Every year since 1964, the American Society for Information Science and Technology has bestowed its highest honor on one researcher in the information science field. This year, Blaise Cronin, dean of IU's School of Library and Information Science, received the National Award of Merit.\n"It is particularly satisfying to be acknowledged by one's peers and to find oneself joining a very select group of scholars within the field," Cronin said.\nRichard Hill, executive director of ASIS&T, said in a phone interview that the purpose of the award is to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to the information science field, including the expression of new ideas and better techniques that serve to further the profession.\nThe actual award is presented at the annual ASIS&T meeting in November and according to the ASIS&T Web site, consists of a personally engraved bowl and a certificate describing the recipient's contributions.\nAlthough Cronin is unaware of what information was provided in his actual nomination, he attributes much of his success to fulfilling his administrative duties as SLIS dean since 1991 while maintaining a personal research agenda.\n"I have been fortunate enough to find the time and resources to remain active as a scholar and also a consultant," Cronin said. "In addition, I have been, for the last six years, editor of the Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, one of the most prestigious publications in information science."\nAs a recipient of the National Award of Merit, Cronin joins a select group of scholars sharing a common interest in improving the ways society stores, retrieves and analyzes information. Cronin said the award is not only exciting for him, but also for IU and his colleagues.\n"It reflects well on one's parent institution and one's immediate colleagues," Cronin said.\nNoriko Hara, assistant professor of information science, also recognized Cronin's achievements.\n"He certainly deserves this prestigious award considering his enormous contribution to the field of information science," Hara said. "Hopefully this award increases awareness that SLIS has a strong program within IU, as well as in the U.S. and worldwide."\nAlong with the national award of merit, Cronin's latest book has been named a Choice magazine "Outstanding Academic Title", and he was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree from Queen Margaret University College in Edinburgh, Scotland.