Alma Dawson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alma Dawson
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Librarian, Scholar, Library Science educator |
Alma Dawson is an American expert in libraries and information. She taught at Louisiana State University (LSU) as a special professor called the Russell B. Long Professor. She retired in 2014 and became an Emeritus Professor in 2015, which means she's still honored by the university. In 2019, Dr. Dawson received a big award, the Essae Martha Culver Distinguished Service Award, from the Louisiana Library Association. This award celebrates librarians who have done amazing work and shown great leadership in Louisiana.
Education and Career
Dr. Dawson first earned her bachelor's degree in education from Grambling State University. After that, she taught in the Natchitoches Parish School System. She then decided to study libraries and earned her master's degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Her first job as a librarian was at the W. R. Banks Library at Prairie View A&M University. In 1978, she was chosen for a special internship project. She worked at the University of Wisconsin Library for several months.
In 1982, Dr. Dawson joined the library staff at Louisiana State University. She became the librarian for library and information science. During the 1980s, she also helped edit a column for a journal called RQ, which is for librarians.
She continued her education and earned her PhD in Library Science and Higher Education in 1996 from the Texas Woman's University. After getting her PhD, she joined the teaching staff at LSU's School of Library and Information Science. She moved up in her career to become the special Russell B. Long Professor.
Dr. Dawson also wrote about the history of the Louisiana Library Association during a time called Jim Crow. This was a period when laws kept African Americans separate from others. Her work showed how African Americans participated in the association during this challenging time.
Project Recovery
In 2009, Dr. Dawson received a special grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This grant was for a project called “Project Recovery.” Through this project, students received scholarships to study librarianship.
These students helped libraries that were damaged by big storms like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. They worked on projects to help these libraries get back on their feet. Another expert, Suzanne M. Stauffer, helped Dr. Dawson with this project.
Awards
Dr. Alma Dawson has received many awards for her important work:
- 2005: She received the American Library Association Equality Award. This award honors people who help make the library profession fair for everyone.
- 2012: She earned the Louisiana Library Association's Meritorious Service Award. This award is for librarians who show great leadership and service to the Louisiana Library Association.
- 2013: She was given the Advocate for Diversity Award from Louisiana State University. This award recognizes her efforts to support different kinds of people.
- 2015: She became an Emeritus Professor at Louisiana State University.
- 2019: She received the Essae Martha Culver Award from the Louisiana Library Association.
