David Cohen/EMIERT Multicultural Award
The David Cohen/EMIERT Multicultural Award recognizes recent articles that include significant new research related to the understanding and promotion of multiculturalism in libraries in North America. Works published within the last two years preceding the award application deadline shall be eligible to receive the award. The publication shall demonstrate advances in understanding multicultural issues in libraries. The Award will consist of a certificate and a monetary award to be determined, and will be presented at the ALA Annual Conference during the EMIERT membership meeting.
Criteria
The Award recipients will be selected based on the following specific criteria:
- Relationship of publication to the purpose of the Award
- Extent to which publication bridges cultures, increases multicultural awareness in libraries, or provides appropriate cultural representation
- Significance of publication and its potential impact
- Originality
There will be one bi-annual Award presented in even years (e.g. 2022, 2024, 2026, etc.). If no suitable candidate is judged to merit the Award in a given year, the award will not be presented.
Nominations
Nominations for the 2022 award will open in the fall of 2021.
The selection will be made by the EMIERT Awards Committee of the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT). Nominated published articles will be evaluated based on submitted applications received by the deadline set by the EMIERT Awards Committee.
Submitted materials should include:
- Completed nomination form
- Article (published within the last two years)
- A copy of the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae
- A 250-word statement of significance addressing why the nominee is deserving of this recognition according to the criteria of the award and citing specific achievements
- OPTIONAL: Additional letters of recommendation
Questions?
For assistance, please contact Monica Chapman with the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services at mlchapman@ala.org, or toll-free at 800-545-2433, ext. 4297.
About David Cohen
David Cohen, founder of EMIERT passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2015, at the age of 105. The obituary is available here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=174089982
also see:
"Remembering David Cohen," from the Freedom to Read Foundation:
David Cohen, Founder of EMIERT
The journal Multicultural Review published in an article in 2006 about David Cohen: "David Cohen: A Tribute to the Found Emeritus of the ALA Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT). Multicultural Review; Dec 2006, Vol. 15 Issue 4 p.96
Abstract: The article focuses on the life and works of David Cohen, founder emeritus of the ALA Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table. He has made a major contribution on librarianship in the field of ethnic and multicultural library service, and inspire generations of library school students to organize library programs. He was responsible in advocating the inclusion of ethnic materials in libraries and the publishing of the works of more ethnic and minority authors. He was active in promoting multiculturalism, specifically, the need for ethnic materials and materials in foreign languages in libraries.
