• Harvard University
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  • Library Notes
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  • January 2009
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  • No. 1347
Alison Scott Receives HCL's 18th Annual Ishimoto Award Print
ishimoto.jpgHCL Associate Librarian for Collection Development Dan Hazen, Alison Scott, and Roy E. Larsen Librarian of Harvard College Nancy Cline

Alison Scott, senior collection development librarian in Widener Library and Charles Warren Bibliographer for American History, has been named as the 2008 winner of the Carol Ishimoto Award for Distinguished Service in the Harvard College Library.

An endowment established in 1991 by Carol Ishimoto, former associate librarian of Harvard College for cataloging and processing, annually provides a cash award and citation for creative professional achievement of a high order. The award recognizes a member or group of the professional staff who has advanced the mission of the College Library through exceptional contributions and leadership.

Since her appointment in 2000, colleagues credit Scott with leading a substantial expansion and revitalization of the Library’s Americana collections and collecting program, with a particular focus on primary resources and popular culture. To that end, she has collected thousands of film and TV DVDs in support of a number of courses, and has provided resources essential to original research—including the new doctoral program in Film Studies.

Scott has also nurtured complementary donations, including a complete, mint-condition run of TV Guide. Other recent acquisitions include a major private collection of science fiction and fantasy comic books, an array of materials on HIV/AIDS, and significant purchases in previously underrepresented genres, such as ’zines and graphic novels.

It is not only Widener that has benefitted from Scott’s collecting work. She is credited with organizing cooperative acquisitions with other units, including the Harvard Film Archive and Houghton and Loeb Music libraries. She has also promoted selection and ordering efficiencies in conjunction with other English-language bibliographers at the English Division at HCL Technical Services.

“Alison’s dedication, wit, intelligence, leadership skills, and range of activities are exemplary,” said Dan Hazen, associate librarian of Harvard College for collection development. “She models the generosity of spirit, breadth of perspective, personal integrity, and deep-seated knowledge and competence that exemplify our collection-development enterprise.”