It is with great sadness that I inform you that Margaret Chisholm, director of the School of Library and Information Science from 1981 to 1992 and a graduate of the University of Washington (BA '57, MLS '58, PhD '66), died this past Saturday.

Margaret was an exceptional person - dedicated to this School, the University of Washington, and our field. Her distinguished career included her election to president of the American Library Association for the 1987-88 term; Margaret was an active, involved president and brought a great deal of attention to librarianship and its importance. Margaret also served on the National Planning Committee for the White House Conference on Library and Information Services. She authored several important books and many articles on librarianship.

Margaret was known for her vision and her ability to touch people as individuals. She was a close personal and professional friend to many, including me. I first came in contact with Margaret through my work with the ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology - she was a member of our National Advisory Board. Margaret was always looking to push the limits-to expand scope and influence. Also, she was always a strong advocate for the School of Library and Information Science and the UW. She took great personal interest and pride in our current transformation. I can tell you that Margaret's strong (and continual) lobbying, encouragement and support, were major factors in my coming to the School. It wasn't easy to say no to Margaret Chisholm. I often sought her advice, and I know that other faculty did as well. We will all miss her a great deal.

Margaret's personal slogan and the one that she made famous during her time as president of the ALA was "Motivate, inspire, and lead." Margaret felt that motivating, inspiring, and leading was the responsibility of every librarian and information professional. She certainly lived this motto as well. In remembrance of this extraordinary leader and her gifts to the field of library and information science, the "Margaret Chisholm Motivate, Inspire, and Lead Fund" has been established by Margaret's daughters Nancy and Jan, both of whom are librarians themselves. This fund, created through the School of Library and Information Science, will be used to bring important leaders in the field of librarianship to the School of Library and Information Science to inspire the next generation of librarians.

All of us who knew Margaret are better off for it. And those of you who did not know her, are affected as well-through her school-our school-and her field-the library and information field. I encourage you, in her honor, to take a moment today to reflect and celebrate a great person.

Sincerely,

Mike Eisenberg
Director
School of Library and Information Science
University of Washington

If you wish to contribute to the Margaret Chisholm Motivate, Inspire, and Lead Fund, please send checks made out to the University of Washington to:

Carrie Lowe
Assistant to the Director
School of Library and Information Science
University of Washington
Box 352930
Seattle, WA 98195-2930

Please write "Chisholm Fund" in the memo line of your check.

originally submitted to hlib-nw, 11-22-99, by Carolyn Weaver <cweaver@u.washington.edu>