Robert Wedgeworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Wedgeworth
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Wedgeworth (center), alongside Jean E. Lowrie, meeting a Chinese foreign language instructor during a visit by Chinese librarians to the ALA headquarters. October 18, 1973.
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| Born | July 31, 1937 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Rutgers University |
| Occupation | Librarian |
Robert Wedgeworth is an American librarian who has dedicated his life to libraries and helping people learn. He helped start ProLiteracy Worldwide, an organization that teaches adults to read. He also led the American Library Association (ALA) and the IFLA, which are big groups for librarians around the world.
Mr. Wedgeworth was also in charge of the library school at Columbia University and the main library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has written and edited many important books and won many awards. In 2021, the American Library Association gave him its highest award, Honorary Membership.
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Education and Early Career
Robert Wedgeworth finished high school in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1955. He then went to Wabash College and earned a degree in 1959. In 1961, he received a master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois.
He started a PhD program at Rutgers University but left in 1972 to become the executive director of the American Library Association. Years later, in 2012, he returned to Rutgers and completed his PhD. Before leading big organizations, he worked in libraries in Kansas City and St. Louis.
Leading Libraries and Organizations
Robert Wedgeworth held many important jobs in the library world. From 1993 to 1999, he was the University Librarian and a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The library there is one of the largest public university research libraries in the world.
Before that, he was the Dean of the Columbia University School of Library Service from 1985 to 1992. He also served as the Executive Director of the American Library Association (ALA) from 1972 to 1985.
In 1962, the ALA chose him to work at "Library 21," a special exhibit about the future of libraries at the Seattle World's Fair. This experience helped him learn about new technologies. He later helped bring computer systems to the libraries at Brown University. He also traveled around Western Europe to study how books were traded.
In 1969, Wedgeworth began teaching at Rutgers University. He left Rutgers in 1972 to become the Executive Director of the American Library Association.
Helping People Read
When Robert Wedgeworth became the leader of the ALA, he helped make the organization more open and respected. Under his leadership, the number of members grew from 28,000 to over 40,000. He also helped the ALA get more money, which was used to support its programs.
He was very interested in reading and literacy. He helped create the Friends of Libraries USA group. In 1979, he started the Coalition on Literacy. He then convinced the Advertising Council to launch the first national advertising campaign to promote adult literacy. This campaign encouraged adults to learn how to read.
Protecting Copyrights
In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford asked Wedgeworth to join a special group called the National Commission on New Uses of Copyrighted Works (CONTU). He played a key role in solving issues about library photocopying. These solutions became part of the Copyright Revision Law of 1978, which protects the rights of authors and creators.
At the University of Illinois, Wedgeworth helped modernize the library. He started a digital library research program and expanded a training program for librarians from other countries. He also helped the library raise a lot of money to support its work.
Leading ProLiteracy Worldwide
In 2002, Robert Wedgeworth became the President of ProLiteracy Worldwide. This happened when two large literacy organizations, Laubach Literacy International and Literacy Volunteers of America, merged. ProLiteracy Worldwide is the biggest non-government organization that teaches people to read. It creates learning materials and provides training in the U.S. and in over 60 other countries. Wedgeworth retired from ProLiteracy in 2007.
International Library Leadership
Robert Wedgeworth was elected President of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in 1991 and again in 1995. He was the second American to be IFLA President and the only one to serve a second term. During his time as president, he helped IFLA become the most important international library organization. He expanded its membership to over 140 countries. He also helped create a global communication system called IFLANET.
Serving on Boards
Mr. Wedgeworth has served on many important boards and committees. He is a life member of the American Library Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He is also on the Board of Trustees for Wabash College and the Newberry Library. He has advised libraries at universities like Princeton, Miami, Stanford, and Harvard.
Awards and Recognition
Robert Wedgeworth has received many honors for his work. He has been given six honorary doctorates, including one from Syracuse University in 2008.
In 1991, he was named the Most Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Illinois's library school. In 1996, he received the Medal of Honor from the International Council of Archives for his work around the world.
He received the American Library Association Honorary Membership in 2021, which is the ALA's highest award. He also won the Joseph W. Lippincott Award in 1989, the Melvil Dewey Medal in 1997, and the Humphry/OCLC/Forest Press Award for his international library achievements.
In 2011, he gave a special lecture called "Literacy in Libraries: Challenges and Opportunities."
Family Life
Robert Wedgeworth is married to Chung-Kyun (C.K.), who is also a retired librarian. They have one daughter who works as a senior news editor for the New York Times in Washington.
