Biographical Information

Dr. Betty J. Turock

Betty J. Turock is a Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science, where her primary area of research is information policy. She has served as the President of the 58,000-member American Library Association (ALA), the oldest and largest library association in the world. As President, Turock focused on Equity on the Information Superhighway, just and equitable access to electronic information and elimination of the digital divide widening the gap between the information rich and the information poor both in our nation and around the world. She has testified frequently before the Congress of the United States and the FCC when electronic information policy was being formulated or enacted. She has also served as senior advisor in the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Library Programs.

Dr. Turock, the author of more than 85 publications, is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Rutgers School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, the New Jersey Library Leadership Award, the Rutgers University Presidential Award for Distinguished Public Service, and, from ALA, the Jesse Shera Award for Outstanding Research and the Association's Equality Award. In 2000 she was honored by ALA as one of the Extraordinary Library Advocates of the Twentieth Century. Dr. Turock has traveled, lectured and served as a consultant to the governments of Russia, the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, and France. Under the auspices of the United States Information Agency, in 1997 she was Distinguished Lecturer to India.

Education

Rutgers University: Ph.D., Library and Information Science.
Rutgers University: M.L.S.
Syracuse University: B.A., magna cum laude.

Honors

"Who's Who of American Women"	1977-
Jesse Shera Award, American Library Association, Library Research Roundtable, Outstanding Research with Colleagues	1989
"Who's Who in America"	1992-
Distinguished Alumna, Graduate Alumni Association of Rutger University's School of Communication, Information and Library Studies	1993
New Jersey Library Leadership Award from the State Library Advisory Council	1997
"Who's Who in the World"	1995-
Presidential Award for Distinguished Public Service from Rutgers University	1997
Equality Award, ALA	1998
Extraordinary Library Advocates of the Twentieth Century, ALA	2000

Career Record

1994-97 President-Elect, President, Immediate Past-President, American Library Association

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

1997- Fellow, Douglas College
1994- Full Professor, Department of Library and Information Studies
1989-95 Director, MLS Program, Department of Library and Information Studies
1989-95 Chair, Department of Library and Information Studies,
1980- Professor

Previous Professional Positions

Assistant Director, Rochester/Monroe County Library System, Rochester, N.Y.
Director, Montclair Public Library, Montclair, N.J.
Assistant Director, Montclair Public Library, Montclair, N.J.
Head, Extension Services, Forsyth County Public Library System, Winston-Salem, N.C.
East Area Head, Forsyth County Public Library System, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Branch Library Head, Nernersville Public Library, Forsyth County Public Library System, Kernersville, N.C.

Research Interests

Investigating the historical causations and contemporary actions in information policy decision making to suggest modifications to the techniques and mechanisms employed.
Information policy in the public interest; management and evaluation of public library systems and services; women and leadership.

Professional Affiliations

President-Elect 1994/95, American Library Association. The oldest and largest library association in the world with 58,000 members.
President 1995/96, American Library Association.
Immediate Past President, 1996/97, American Library Association.

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