Symons, Ann K. | The American Library Association Archives

Name: Symons, Ann K.

Historical Note: Ann K. Symons earned a B.A. from the University of California, a C.A.S. from the University of Denver, and an M.L.S. from the University of Oregon. She has worked as an academic and school librarian since 1970. From 1972 to 2000, she was a librarian for the Juneau School District, and for six years, she was the Middle and High School Librarian at the Anglo American School of Moscow in Russia. She has also worked as a library consultant. Symons served as President of ALA from 1998 to 1999. Additionally, she was Treasurer from 1992 to 1996, and she has been Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee as well as a member of Council and the Executive Board [2]. She has served on the Freedom to Read Foundation Board of Directors and the Exhibits Round Table Board, and she has chaired the Conference Committee and the ALA Scholarship Bash. She has also been active in the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), as well as the Alaska Library Association, having served as a member of their Executive Board and as Treasurer. Symons was the recipient of ALA's Joseph W. Lippincott Award in 2002 [1], ALA's Elizabeth Futas Catalyst for Change Award, the Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award, the American Association of School Libraries (AASL)/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award, the President Leadership Award from AASL/Alaska [2], and ALA's Equality Award in 2014 [3].

Sources:

1. Cheryl Malden, "Ann K. Symons receives 2002 Lippincott Award," American Library Association, April 2002, http://www.ala.org/news/news/pressreleases2002/annksymonsreceives.

2. "'Power of Critical Thinking' by Ann Symons," Consulate General of the United States, Istanbul, Turkey, May 13-17, 2013, http://istanbul.usconsulate.gov/ann_symons.html.

3. Cheryl Malder, "The American Library Association honors Ann K. Symons with 2014 Equality Award," American Library Award, April 1, 2014, http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2014/04/american-library-association-honors-ann-k-symons-2013-equality-award.

Records or Manuscript Collections Created by Symons, Ann K.