Samuel F. Morrison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel F. Morrison
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| Born | December 19, 1936 |
| Education | Compton Junior College (AA), California State University (BA), University of Illinois (MLS) |
| Occupation | Library director, librarian |
Samuel F. Morrison, born on December 19, 1936, is a famous American librarian. He led the Broward County Library system for 13 years. He also helped create the important African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. Before that, he was the chief librarian for the Chicago Public Library from 1987 to 1989. In this role, he helped design and build the Harold Washington Library.
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Early Life and Education
Samuel F. Morrison was born in Flagstaff, Arizona, on December 19, 1936. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He earned an associate degree from Compton Junior College in 1955. After that, he served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1959. In the 1960s, Morrison worked as a manager for Lucky supermarkets in Los Angeles, California.
Morrison continued his education and earned a bachelor's degree in English. He got this degree from California State University, Los Angeles in 1971. The next year, in 1972, he earned a master's degree in Library Science. He received this from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He also studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1989.
Working in Libraries
Morrison started his library career with a special project. It was called the Frostproof Living Learning Library Center. This project was in Frostproof, Florida. It helped provide library services to migrant workers. He directed this library from 1972 to 1974.
In August 1974, Morrison joined the new Broward County Library system. He started as an assistant to the director. By 1976, he became the deputy director. He worked in this role for eleven years.
Building the Chicago Public Library
In May 1987, Chicago's mayor, Harold Washington, chose Morrison for a big job. He was asked to oversee the building of the Chicago Public Library's main branch. For the next three years, he was the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Librarian. He managed the library staff. He also worked with the city and contractors. He was the main link between the library board and those building the new library. This new library later became the famous Harold Washington Library.
Leading the Broward County Library
In 1990, Morrison returned to the Broward County Library. This time, he became the director of the entire library system. During his time as director, the system grew a lot. It went from just four branches to thirty-eight branches. In 1996, the system was even named "Library of the Year" by Library Journal.
Morrison was inspired by a visit to a library in Atlanta. This library focused on African American culture and history. He then started to promote and raise money for a similar center in Broward County. This led to the creation of the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. This large, 60,000-square-foot building opened in Fort Lauderdale in 2002. It became more than just a research library. It also became an education and community center. It is a place where people celebrate African American history and culture.
Morrison retired from his role as director of the Broward County Library in 2003.
Awards and Leadership
Morrison was elected president of the Florida Library Association in 1981. He also served on the association's executive board. His theme for the conference was "Florida Libraries: Resource for the Future."
In 1997, Morrison received the DEMCO/Black Caucus of the American Library Association Award. This award recognized his work in promoting African Americans in librarianship.
In 2003, Morrison received the American Library Association Honorary Membership. This is the highest honor given by the association. He was honored for his long career in libraries. He was also recognized for promoting library services. His vision in creating partnerships between libraries and other groups was also praised. Finally, he was honored for helping new librarians learn and grow.
Other important awards he received include:
- The National Urban League's Diversity Champion Award (1998)
- The NAACP President's Award (1998)
- The University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science Distinguished Alumnus Award (1999)
- The Florida Library Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2018)
There is even a robot version of Morrison at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center! This robot, called an animatronic, honors his many contributions to Broward County's culture. The animatronic says phrases in Morrison's own voice. One of these phrases says: "I see the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center as a bridge and a beacon. It is a symbol of hope, a span across cultures and a shining light for a world in which knowledge is the true power."
