James F. Williams facts for kids

James F. Williams II is a retired American librarian. He spent many years leading university libraries.

He earned his first degree in sociology from Morehouse College in 1966. Later, he got a master's degree in library science from Atlanta University. His wife, Nancy Allen, is also a librarian. She leads the libraries at the University of Denver.

A Life in Libraries

James F. Williams II had a long and important career in libraries. From 1988 to 2017, he was the Dean of Libraries at the University of Colorado at Boulder. A "Dean of Libraries" is like the head of all the libraries at a big university. They make sure students and teachers have the books, resources, and help they need for learning and research.

Williams was also involved in many important groups that help libraries. He was on the board of directors for the Association of Research Libraries. This group helps big research libraries work together and improve their services. He also helped guide their plans for public policies.

He was a member of the board for the School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. He also helped review libraries at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was part of the Libraries' National Council at Washington University in St. Louis. Beyond libraries, he was a trustee for the Denver Art Museum, helping to guide the museum.

Awards and Recognition

James F. Williams II has received special honors for his work.

In 2002, he won the Melvil Dewey Medal from the American Library Association. This award is given for "distinguished service to the profession of librarianship." It means he did an outstanding job helping libraries and librarians.

In 2017, the Colorado Association of Libraries gave him their Career Achievement Award. This award recognized all his hard work and dedication throughout his many years in the library world.