John H. Moriarty Award for Excellence in Library Service to Purdue University Faculty and Students

The John H. Moriarty Award for Excellence in Library Service is named in honor of John H. “Jack” Moriarty, who served as Director of Purdue Libraries from 1944 until 1970. “Service” had always been central to Moriarty, who held various positions in libraries across the nation, including the Library of Congress, before joining Purdue. One of these positions includes a visiting lecturer at the University of Illinois Library School as well as a frequent contributor to library journals. The former dean of library administration at the University of Illinois, R.B. Downs, wrote a letter when Moriarty retired, stating that he was very “impressed by the high esteem in which Jack was held on campus, from the university’s president down to the student assistants.”

The award was established in 1982 to recognize outstanding service and contributions in librarianship provided by members of Purdue Libraries faculty The award may be given more than once to a faculty member but not in consecutive years. Faculty members may nominate themselves or other faculty members for consideration. A selection committee that consists of the dean and associate deans will select the winner.

Criteria for Selection

The recipient of the award should show outstanding contributions in one or more areas, which have helped to further Purdue Libraries’ ability to provide information services to its primary user community. Examples of these areas include:

A significant contribution, which particularly benefits students and/or faculty;
A contribution which has had significant impact on furthering the operations and strategic goals of Purdue Libraries;
Significant information contributions recognized by the university;
Excellence in service through innovation and introduction of cost-effective services;
Excellence in service through the demonstration of continuous leadership.

About the Moriarty Award Endowment:

Moriarty and his wife, Jean, instilled a love of learning in their three children, two of which graduated from Purdue. An endowment for the John H. Moriarty Award for Excellence in Library Service was established to provide perpetual support for Purdue Libraries faculty. Richard L. Funkhouser, a deep admirer of Moriarty, endorsed this award to help recognize outstanding librarianship in supplying the information needs of the university. Members of the Moriarty family—among them his youngest son, Mark, and his wife, Linda—have committed to continue the Moriarty Award Endowment in honor of Moriarty.

To make a gift to support the Moriarty Award Endowment, click here.

Winners

2024: Wei Zakharov, Stephanie Schmitz
2023: Chao Cai, Adriana Harmeyer
2022: Matt Hannah
2021: J.P. Herubel, Bethany McGowan
2020: Nicole Kong

Show All Winners

2019: Nastasha Johnson
2018: Pete Pascuzzi
2017: Vicki Killion
2016: Gretchen Stephens
2015: Clarence Maybee
2014: Suzanne Ward
2013: Charlotte Erdman
2012: Catherine Fraser Riehle
2011: Maribeth Slebodnik & Amy Van Epps
2010: Marianne Stowell Bracke
2009: Christopher P. Miller
2008: Megan Sapp Nelson
2007: Katherine M. Markee
2006: E. Stewart Saunders
2005: Sarah A. Kelly
2004: Michael J. Fosmire
2003: Harold P. Kirkwood
2002: Alexius Smith Macklin
2001: Robert S. Freeman
2000: Scott B. Mandernack
1999: Shelia R. Curl
1998: Vicki J. Killion
1997: D. Scott Brandt
1996: Judith M. Pask
1994: Carl E. Snow
1993: Gordon Law
1992: Roberta Kramer
1991: Edwin D. Posey
1990: Priscilla Geahigan
1989: Judith Nixon
1988: John Pinzelik
1987: Richard Funkhouser
1986: Theodora Andrews
1985: Laszlo Kovacs
1984: Barbara Pinzelik
1983: Marjorie Zumstein
1982: John Houkes