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Hugh Craig Atkinson

May 04, 2024

Hugh Craig Atkinson (November 27, 1933 – October 24, 1986)[1] was an American librarian known for his innovations in library automation and cooperation. He served as director of libraries at Ohio State University from 1971 to 1976 and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1976 to 1986. In 1999, American Libraries named him one of the 20th century's 100 most important leaders in librarianship.[2]

Hugh Craig Atkinson
Born(1933-11-27)November 27, 1933
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedOctober 24, 1986(1986-10-24) (aged 52)
NationalityAmerican
EducationBenedictine College
University of Chicago
University of Chicago Graduate Library School (MLS)
OccupationLibrarian

Biography edit

Hugh Atkinson was born in Chicago. He worked from 1951 to 1956 as a junior accountant for Lawrence Scudder and Co. while studying accounting at St. Benedict's College. Upon receiving his accounting degree, Atkinson studied English at the University of Chicago, and then received his Masters in Library Science from the University of Chicago Graduate Library School while working in the University Library as a rare books assistant.[3]

Atkinson's professional library career began at Pennsylvania Military College, where he worked from 1958 to 1961 as a reader services librarian. From 1961 to 1967 he held several positions at the State University of New York at Buffalo library, as head of reference, assistant director for technical services, and as acting assistant director of the Health Sciences Libraries. Here, he oversaw the huge growth of the university library as the State University of New York system rapidly expanded.[4]

In 1967, Atkinson moved to Ohio State University where he served as head of public services (1967–71), and then as director of libraries (1971–76). Here he played a seminal role in the creation of one of the first online library circulation systems, the Library Circulation System. The system was later known as the Library Computer System,[5] but is most commonly referred to by the acronym LCS. The system was notable for its decentralized organization, allowing library users in any given branch of the library to view what was available in any other branch. In an interview with Technicalities in 1985, Atkinson stated, "The only way I can see in a decentralized world to maximize library use is to provide, at the varying sites, the ability to borrow freely throughout the campus."[6] This vision of automated cooperation between decentralized libraries was a key manifestation of Atkinson's overall approach to librarianship, which he termed holistic librarianship. At the heart of this approach was a strong belief in "the ideal of cooperation."[7]

Having successfully implemented LCS at Ohio State University, Atkinson spent the last 10 years of his life as university librarian at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Here he envisioned and oversaw the creation of the Illinois LCS network, a multi-type library network which connected the circulation information not only of the University of Illinois libraries, but also included many state library systems as well. At the time of his death it was the most developed statewide library system in existence.[8] This multi-type library network was founded on Atkinson's realization that larger libraries do not simply own all the books smaller libraries have and more, but that smaller libraries often have their own unique collections that larger libraries would also benefit from having access to. His goal was to have the diverse composition of the network supplement each library in ways that were beneficial to its own users’ needs.[9] He wrote, "My point is that one should not try to reach some kind of theoretical balance or fairness, but to build a network that will provide, by its services and arrangement, the library activities that will satisfy each of the participants, although not necessarily in the same way."[10] The development of this multi-type, online library network was one of Atkinson's crowning achievements as a librarian. In 1981, he told American Libraries that his most important accomplishment was the "clarification in my own mind that the future of the library is in decentralized, electronic access."[11]

In addition to the creation of the Illinois LCS network, Atkinson contributed to the advancement of modern librarianship in a number of other ways during his years as university librarian at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He oversaw the reorganization of the library's administrative structure "in accordance with his ideas on professionalism and public service",[12] which has since become the standard for major academic libraries.[8] Another of his advancements during this time was the creation and implementation of one of the first large-scale searchable online catalogs composed of full bibliographic records in which other libraries in the network were able to synch their short-record catalogs to. This catalog was a major innovation not only in its ability to allow users to see more details about a particular book and whether or not it was available in any of the hundreds of interconnected libraries, but to search the records by keyword in a variety of fields including title and subject headings at the same time, which greatly enhanced the usefulness of subject headings.[13]

Hugh Atkinson died on October 24, 1986, aged 52.

Annual awards in Atkinson's honor edit

The American Library Association (ALA) honors Atkinson's innovations in librarianship through a yearly award. The Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award "honors the life and accomplishments of Hugh C. Atkinson by soliciting nominations and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of an academic librarian who has worked in the areas of library automation or library management and has made contributions (including risk taking) toward the improvement of library services or to library development or research."[14]

The Illinois Library Association (ILA) honors Atkinson and his dedication to "statewide interlibrary cooperation" with a yearly award. The Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial/Demco Award is presented by Illinois Library Association and Demco to an individual, a group, a program, or an institution that makes a lasting impact on librarianship.[15]

Selected publications edit

  • Atkinson, H. C. (1974). Extension of new services and the role of technology. Library Trends, 23(2), 305-317.
  • Atkinson, H. C. (1975). Personnel savings through computerized library systems. Library Trends, 23, 587-594.
  • Atkinson, H. C. (1984). Two Reactions to Change. Library Journal, 109(13), 1426-7.
  • Atkinson, H. C. (1984). Strategies for Change: Part I. Library Journal, 109(1), 58.
  • Atkinson, H. C. (1984). Strategies for Change: Part II. Library Journal, 109(5), 556.
  • Atkinson, H. C. (1987). Atkinson on networks. American Libraries, 18, 430-5.

References edit

  1. ^ Gorman, Michael (January 2003). "Hugh Atkinson". In Donald G. Davis (ed.). Dictionary of American Library Biography: Second supplement. Libraries Unlimited. pp. 13–16. ISBN 978-1-56308-868-1.
  2. ^ 100 of the most important leaders we had in the 20th century (1999). American Libraries, 30(11), 39.
  3. ^ Remembering Hugh C. Atkinson (1934-1986) (1997). College & Research Libraries News, 58(1), 38.
  4. ^ Alley, B. (1985). A conversation with Hugh Atkinson. Technicalities, 5 (April 1985), 3.
  5. ^ Bregman, A., & Burger, R. H. (2002). Library automation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1965-2000. IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 24(2), 71-85.
  6. ^ Alley, B. (1985). A conversation with Hugh Atkinson. Technicalities, 5 (April 1985), 4.
  7. ^ Gorman, M. (1987). A librarian's librarian: Hugh Craig Atkinson, 1933-1986. Technical Services Quarterly, 4, 2.
  8. ^ a b Gorman, M. (1986). Hugh Craig Atkinson, 1933-1986; "He has out-soared the shadow of our night," (obituary). American Libraries, 17, 816.
  9. ^ Atkinson, H. (1987). Atkinson on networks. American Libraries, 18, 434.
  10. ^ Atkinson, H. (1987). Atkinson on networks. American Libraries, 18, 433.
  11. ^ Brandehoff, S. E. (1981). Hugh C. Atkinson: in pursuit of bibliographical happiness for all. American Libraries, 12, 246.
  12. ^ Gorman, M. (1987). A librarian's librarian: Hugh Craig Atkinson, 1933-1986. Technical Services Quarterly, 4, 4.
  13. ^ Alley, B. (1985). A conversation with Hugh Atkinson. Technicalities, 5 (April 1985), 4-5.
  14. ^ American Library Association. "Lita Scholarships & Awards." August 19, 2009. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/lita/litaresources/litascholarships/litascholarships.cfm (September 22, 2009).
  15. ^ Illinois Library Association. "Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial/Demco Award." http://www.ila.org/awards/hugh-c-atkinson-memorial-demco-award 2014-03-10 at the Wayback Machine

External links edit

May 04, 2024
hugh, craig, atkinson, november, 1933, october, 1986, american, librarian, known, innovations, library, automation, cooperation, served, director, libraries, ohio, state, university, from, 1971, 1976, university, illinois, urbana, champaign, from, 1976, 1986, . Hugh Craig Atkinson November 27 1933 October 24 1986 1 was an American librarian known for his innovations in library automation and cooperation He served as director of libraries at Ohio State University from 1971 to 1976 and at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign from 1976 to 1986 In 1999 American Libraries named him one of the 20th century s 100 most important leaders in librarianship 2 Hugh Craig AtkinsonBorn 1933 11 27 November 27 1933Chicago Illinois U S DiedOctober 24 1986 1986 10 24 aged 52 NationalityAmericanEducationBenedictine CollegeUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago Graduate Library School MLS OccupationLibrarian Contents 1 Biography 2 Annual awards in Atkinson s honor 3 Selected publications 4 References 5 External linksBiography editHugh Atkinson was born in Chicago He worked from 1951 to 1956 as a junior accountant for Lawrence Scudder and Co while studying accounting at St Benedict s College Upon receiving his accounting degree Atkinson studied English at the University of Chicago and then received his Masters in Library Science from the University of Chicago Graduate Library School while working in the University Library as a rare books assistant 3 Atkinson s professional library career began at Pennsylvania Military College where he worked from 1958 to 1961 as a reader services librarian From 1961 to 1967 he held several positions at the State University of New York at Buffalo library as head of reference assistant director for technical services and as acting assistant director of the Health Sciences Libraries Here he oversaw the huge growth of the university library as the State University of New York system rapidly expanded 4 In 1967 Atkinson moved to Ohio State University where he served as head of public services 1967 71 and then as director of libraries 1971 76 Here he played a seminal role in the creation of one of the first online library circulation systems the Library Circulation System The system was later known as the Library Computer System 5 but is most commonly referred to by the acronym LCS The system was notable for its decentralized organization allowing library users in any given branch of the library to view what was available in any other branch In an interview with Technicalities in 1985 Atkinson stated The only way I can see in a decentralized world to maximize library use is to provide at the varying sites the ability to borrow freely throughout the campus 6 This vision of automated cooperation between decentralized libraries was a key manifestation of Atkinson s overall approach to librarianship which he termed holistic librarianship At the heart of this approach was a strong belief in the ideal of cooperation 7 Having successfully implemented LCS at Ohio State University Atkinson spent the last 10 years of his life as university librarian at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Here he envisioned and oversaw the creation of the Illinois LCS network a multi type library network which connected the circulation information not only of the University of Illinois libraries but also included many state library systems as well At the time of his death it was the most developed statewide library system in existence 8 This multi type library network was founded on Atkinson s realization that larger libraries do not simply own all the books smaller libraries have and more but that smaller libraries often have their own unique collections that larger libraries would also benefit from having access to His goal was to have the diverse composition of the network supplement each library in ways that were beneficial to its own users needs 9 He wrote My point is that one should not try to reach some kind of theoretical balance or fairness but to build a network that will provide by its services and arrangement the library activities that will satisfy each of the participants although not necessarily in the same way 10 The development of this multi type online library network was one of Atkinson s crowning achievements as a librarian In 1981 he told American Libraries that his most important accomplishment was the clarification in my own mind that the future of the library is in decentralized electronic access 11 In addition to the creation of the Illinois LCS network Atkinson contributed to the advancement of modern librarianship in a number of other ways during his years as university librarian at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign He oversaw the reorganization of the library s administrative structure in accordance with his ideas on professionalism and public service 12 which has since become the standard for major academic libraries 8 Another of his advancements during this time was the creation and implementation of one of the first large scale searchable online catalogs composed of full bibliographic records in which other libraries in the network were able to synch their short record catalogs to This catalog was a major innovation not only in its ability to allow users to see more details about a particular book and whether or not it was available in any of the hundreds of interconnected libraries but to search the records by keyword in a variety of fields including title and subject headings at the same time which greatly enhanced the usefulness of subject headings 13 Hugh Atkinson died on October 24 1986 aged 52 Annual awards in Atkinson s honor editThe American Library Association ALA honors Atkinson s innovations in librarianship through a yearly award The Hugh C Atkinson Memorial Award honors the life and accomplishments of Hugh C Atkinson by soliciting nominations and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of an academic librarian who has worked in the areas of library automation or library management and has made contributions including risk taking toward the improvement of library services or to library development or research 14 The Illinois Library Association ILA honors Atkinson and his dedication to statewide interlibrary cooperation with a yearly award The Hugh C Atkinson Memorial Demco Award is presented by Illinois Library Association and Demco to an individual a group a program or an institution that makes a lasting impact on librarianship 15 Selected publications editAtkinson H C 1974 Extension of new services and the role of technology Library Trends 23 2 305 317 Atkinson H C 1975 Personnel savings through computerized library systems Library Trends 23 587 594 Atkinson H C 1984 Two Reactions to Change Library Journal 109 13 1426 7 Atkinson H C 1984 Strategies for Change Part I Library Journal 109 1 58 Atkinson H C 1984 Strategies for Change Part II Library Journal 109 5 556 Atkinson H C 1987 Atkinson on networks American Libraries 18 430 5 References edit Gorman Michael January 2003 Hugh Atkinson In Donald G Davis ed Dictionary of American Library Biography Second supplement Libraries Unlimited pp 13 16 ISBN 978 1 56308 868 1 100 of the most important leaders we had in the 20th century 1999 American Libraries 30 11 39 Remembering Hugh C Atkinson 1934 1986 1997 College amp Research Libraries News 58 1 38 Alley B 1985 A conversation with Hugh Atkinson Technicalities 5 April 1985 3 Bregman A amp Burger R H 2002 Library automation at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign 1965 2000 IEEE Annals of the History of Computing 24 2 71 85 Alley B 1985 A conversation with Hugh Atkinson Technicalities 5 April 1985 4 Gorman M 1987 A librarian s librarian Hugh Craig Atkinson 1933 1986 Technical Services Quarterly 4 2 a b Gorman M 1986 Hugh Craig Atkinson 1933 1986 He has out soared the shadow of our night obituary American Libraries 17 816 Atkinson H 1987 Atkinson on networks American Libraries 18 434 Atkinson H 1987 Atkinson on networks American Libraries 18 433 Brandehoff S E 1981 Hugh C Atkinson in pursuit of bibliographical happiness for all American Libraries 12 246 Gorman M 1987 A librarian s librarian Hugh Craig Atkinson 1933 1986 Technical Services Quarterly 4 4 Alley B 1985 A conversation with Hugh Atkinson Technicalities 5 April 1985 4 5 American Library Association Lita Scholarships amp Awards August 19 2009 http www ala org ala mgrps divs lita litaresources litascholarships litascholarships cfm September 22 2009 Illinois Library Association Hugh C Atkinson Memorial Demco Award http www ila org awards hugh c atkinson memorial demco award Archived 2014 03 10 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editHugh Craig Atkinson at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hugh Craig Atkinson amp oldid 1192153582, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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