Beta Phi Mu 70th Anniversary Keynote Address
The following is the Keynote Address delivered by Dr. Em Claire Knowles at Beta Phi Mu’s 70th Anniversary Celebration, held in conjunction with the ALA Annual Meeting in New Orleans in June, 2018.
I was delighted to be asked to speak in celebration of the seventieth anniversary of Beta Phi Mu. Although I have not been around the organization that long, my forty years in the honor society definitely gives me pride that I chose to be inducted into this organization.
This afternoon I will use this opportunity to share my past and what I have done, as well as look to the future of our honor society.
When I first heard that I had received the 2017 Beta Phi Mu Award, I was really surprised and did not believe the email of acknowledgement. In fact, I wrote back to the chair, who I personally knew and said, “Is this a joke or what?” He reassured me that this was an official congratulatory email. As I told my colleagues, and I started to think about it, I realized that I had a long history of 20 years with Beta Phi Mu, and I did deserve this award! Let me tell you about my personal historical path with Beta Phi Mu and the Beta Beta Chapter.
I was inducted into Beta Phi Mu at a national meeting of Beta Phi Mu at the annual ALA Conference in San Francisco in 1975. It was an induction ceremony and program similar to the one that occurs today. I went to the University of California-Berkeley, where there had not been a commencement for a while due to the era of campus protests and demonstrations, and so joining the honor society seemed like a significant and public event to acknowledge my graduation and the honor of being invited into the honor society.
Then I lost touch with Beta Phi Mu for a long while. In my first professional position, no one ever mentioned anything about Beta Phi Mu. In 1988, when I was appointed to my position at Simmons, that all changed.
I began attending the Simmons Beta Beta Chapter events on a regular basis because I was a member of the society, and wanted to support new inductees. Remember that if you have moved, you too can join the chapter nearest you! Then, in 1997, Dean James Matarazzo asked me to take over as the advisor of the Beta Beta Chapter and I have continued in that role to the present day.
Over the twenty-plus years I have led or encouraged students to become active members and officers of the local chapter with service projects of collecting books for marginalized communities, promoting Beta Phi Mu by making sure that all of our students were aware of the available national scholarships, by applying for national financial support to bring speakers such as Dr. Stephen Bell and Dr. Kathleen de la Pena-McCook, (a past recipient of the Beta Phi Mu Award) for the Beta Beta Chapter inductions and school wide programs, beginning local chapter scholarships, promoting our chapter to alumni and students, and making special efforts to promote the importance of the honor society to diverse students through our social affinity group. Furthermore, we have striven to maintain our own 501(c)3 status, and the officers continue to think of new ways to change, grow and stay relevant among the many other alumni groups at Simmons. When asked to run for election to serve on the national board, I recognized this as another way to serve the organization.
Service is a major component of this organization. Service has also been an important factor, along with servant leadership, in my personal life. In fact, there is perhaps, not one weekend that goes by that I am not doing some public service in my own communities, whether it be for Simmons, organizations on which I serve on boards, my sorority of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., my church, or my friends, and neighbors. It is something that is simply built into my DNA, more likely, it reflects the way I was raised by my parents.
At the end of our last Beta Beta business meeting, the following statement was shared with our new inductees:
This afternoon I will use this opportunity to share my past and what I have done, as well as look to the future of our honor society.
When I first heard that I had received the 2017 Beta Phi Mu Award, I was really surprised and did not believe the email of acknowledgement. In fact, I wrote back to the chair, who I personally knew and said, “Is this a joke or what?” He reassured me that this was an official congratulatory email. As I told my colleagues, and I started to think about it, I realized that I had a long history of 20 years with Beta Phi Mu, and I did deserve this award! Let me tell you about my personal historical path with Beta Phi Mu and the Beta Beta Chapter.
I was inducted into Beta Phi Mu at a national meeting of Beta Phi Mu at the annual ALA Conference in San Francisco in 1975. It was an induction ceremony and program similar to the one that occurs today. I went to the University of California-Berkeley, where there had not been a commencement for a while due to the era of campus protests and demonstrations, and so joining the honor society seemed like a significant and public event to acknowledge my graduation and the honor of being invited into the honor society.
Then I lost touch with Beta Phi Mu for a long while. In my first professional position, no one ever mentioned anything about Beta Phi Mu. In 1988, when I was appointed to my position at Simmons, that all changed.
I began attending the Simmons Beta Beta Chapter events on a regular basis because I was a member of the society, and wanted to support new inductees. Remember that if you have moved, you too can join the chapter nearest you! Then, in 1997, Dean James Matarazzo asked me to take over as the advisor of the Beta Beta Chapter and I have continued in that role to the present day.
Over the twenty-plus years I have led or encouraged students to become active members and officers of the local chapter with service projects of collecting books for marginalized communities, promoting Beta Phi Mu by making sure that all of our students were aware of the available national scholarships, by applying for national financial support to bring speakers such as Dr. Stephen Bell and Dr. Kathleen de la Pena-McCook, (a past recipient of the Beta Phi Mu Award) for the Beta Beta Chapter inductions and school wide programs, beginning local chapter scholarships, promoting our chapter to alumni and students, and making special efforts to promote the importance of the honor society to diverse students through our social affinity group. Furthermore, we have striven to maintain our own 501(c)3 status, and the officers continue to think of new ways to change, grow and stay relevant among the many other alumni groups at Simmons. When asked to run for election to serve on the national board, I recognized this as another way to serve the organization.
Service is a major component of this organization. Service has also been an important factor, along with servant leadership, in my personal life. In fact, there is perhaps, not one weekend that goes by that I am not doing some public service in my own communities, whether it be for Simmons, organizations on which I serve on boards, my sorority of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., my church, or my friends, and neighbors. It is something that is simply built into my DNA, more likely, it reflects the way I was raised by my parents.
At the end of our last Beta Beta business meeting, the following statement was shared with our new inductees:
…you now know that Beta Phi Mu’s motto, Aliis inserviendo consumor, means ‘consumed in the service of others.’ Our profession aims to organize information of various types and make it accessible to others. This, in itself, is a service. By virtue of entering and working as a practitioner in our profession, you are already beginning to serve and lead others.
In sharing this statement, I remind each of you to look beyond the service you provide in your place of work and extend it to others. Seek out additional opportunities for service and leadership in your communities, in your professional organizations, to your colleagues, to your user base if you work in a library or archives, or any other information setting. Agree to serve on a board, to act as a mentor, to selflessly step up and offer to help a colleague with a challenging project, to create an internship opportunity, to advise, to assist, to responsibly voice a dissenting opinion, to publish, to take stock of what’s been given to you by others and find a way to pay it forward.
In sharing this statement, I remind each of you to look beyond the service you provide in your place of work and extend it to others. Seek out additional opportunities for service and leadership in your communities, in your professional organizations, to your colleagues, to your user base if you work in a library or archives, or any other information setting. Agree to serve on a board, to act as a mentor, to selflessly step up and offer to help a colleague with a challenging project, to create an internship opportunity, to advise, to assist, to responsibly voice a dissenting opinion, to publish, to take stock of what’s been given to you by others and find a way to pay it forward.
A lot of people helped each of us get to where we are today; we have worked hard but we haven’t done it by ourselves. It is very true, that it takes a village or a community to make changes, or to simply make something happen. We must also recognize that we must continue to grow with more learning, teaching, sharing, and leading.
A powerful example that recently occurred in our profession was a vote by the membership of the American Library Association as to whether or not to require its Executive Director to hold a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, the professional degree of our field. This is the degree that defines who we are as a profession and for which our honor society is built on. Whether or not you agree with this vote, we as members of Beta Phi Mu should take pride in who we are and where we want to go. As I look to the future of our honor society, there are two factors that are crucial to our longevity: our visibility and our financial stability.
I see the role of Beta Phi Mu in the profession is more like the talented tenth or the talented twenty-fifth, in the case of Beta Phi Mu, that W.E.B. DuBois promoted in the early twentieth century, to describe the best and brightest of African Americans who would become educated leaders of the race. This is the same role that I see for the members of Beta Phi Mu, the leaders in our profession.
Imagine, applications for library positions stating a preference for members of Beta Phi Mu; or signature lines in email messages that include an acknowledgement of Beta Phi Mu membership. We need to be proud of our careers and of our honor in this society.
Another challenge that we face is the financial situation of Beta Phi Mu. We can address that with immediate financial support for the National Organization. In order to sustain our giving of master’s scholarships and doctoral fellowships, and other awards, we-need-funds. We need your support. On this 70th anniversary, will you step up to give in increments of $7? Perhaps, some of you still write checks. If so, I ask to give in the amounts of $7, $14, $21, or $70 today to support and honor this organization on its 70th anniversary.
I asked a few long time members and past officers of Beta Phi Mu why they think Beta Phi Mu provides value. I will share a couple of responses with you. Beta Phi Mu Past President Eileen G. Abels, said, “Beta Phi Mu recognizes students in MS-LIS programs, not only for their grade point averages but also for their potential as leaders. This is incredibly important for our field of Library and Information Science. Furthermore, our members benefit from publishing opportunities and discounts for continuing education. We encourage scholarship, services, and leadership.”
Another response comes from another Past President, Dr. John Budd, who is in the audience, who offers the following advice, “The main benefit from Beta Phi Mu national would be the several fellowships and financial aid opportunities for students and professionals. These help fulfill both the scholarship and leadership targets. There is also the annual research paper award, co-sponsored with the Library Research Round Table. A major benefit of membership, though, is participation in the many chapter activities, which includes scholarships, programming at conferences, and work within the chapter community. These are meaningful and substantive, and well worth the life membership.”
The above comments illustrate the value and benefit for our organization, and I hope you can find something that strengthens your commitment to Beta Phi Mu. So, where Beta Phi Mu, the Library and Information Science Honor Society goes is dependent on where the membership, not just takes it, but directs it to go. Our organization will go where the membership leads it.
It all depends on you!
Thank you!
A powerful example that recently occurred in our profession was a vote by the membership of the American Library Association as to whether or not to require its Executive Director to hold a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, the professional degree of our field. This is the degree that defines who we are as a profession and for which our honor society is built on. Whether or not you agree with this vote, we as members of Beta Phi Mu should take pride in who we are and where we want to go. As I look to the future of our honor society, there are two factors that are crucial to our longevity: our visibility and our financial stability.
I see the role of Beta Phi Mu in the profession is more like the talented tenth or the talented twenty-fifth, in the case of Beta Phi Mu, that W.E.B. DuBois promoted in the early twentieth century, to describe the best and brightest of African Americans who would become educated leaders of the race. This is the same role that I see for the members of Beta Phi Mu, the leaders in our profession.
Imagine, applications for library positions stating a preference for members of Beta Phi Mu; or signature lines in email messages that include an acknowledgement of Beta Phi Mu membership. We need to be proud of our careers and of our honor in this society.
Another challenge that we face is the financial situation of Beta Phi Mu. We can address that with immediate financial support for the National Organization. In order to sustain our giving of master’s scholarships and doctoral fellowships, and other awards, we-need-funds. We need your support. On this 70th anniversary, will you step up to give in increments of $7? Perhaps, some of you still write checks. If so, I ask to give in the amounts of $7, $14, $21, or $70 today to support and honor this organization on its 70th anniversary.
I asked a few long time members and past officers of Beta Phi Mu why they think Beta Phi Mu provides value. I will share a couple of responses with you. Beta Phi Mu Past President Eileen G. Abels, said, “Beta Phi Mu recognizes students in MS-LIS programs, not only for their grade point averages but also for their potential as leaders. This is incredibly important for our field of Library and Information Science. Furthermore, our members benefit from publishing opportunities and discounts for continuing education. We encourage scholarship, services, and leadership.”
Another response comes from another Past President, Dr. John Budd, who is in the audience, who offers the following advice, “The main benefit from Beta Phi Mu national would be the several fellowships and financial aid opportunities for students and professionals. These help fulfill both the scholarship and leadership targets. There is also the annual research paper award, co-sponsored with the Library Research Round Table. A major benefit of membership, though, is participation in the many chapter activities, which includes scholarships, programming at conferences, and work within the chapter community. These are meaningful and substantive, and well worth the life membership.”
The above comments illustrate the value and benefit for our organization, and I hope you can find something that strengthens your commitment to Beta Phi Mu. So, where Beta Phi Mu, the Library and Information Science Honor Society goes is dependent on where the membership, not just takes it, but directs it to go. Our organization will go where the membership leads it.
It all depends on you!
Thank you!
