LAUC-LA 1997 Librarian of the Year Award

Miki Goral

LAUC-LA Spring Membership Meeting

May 6, 1997 1-3 PM

It is with great pleasure that LAUC-LA presents to Miki Goral its 1997 Librarian of the Year Award. With this award we recognize Miki for her recent and ongoing contributions to LAUC, to librarians, to the Library, and for her qualities of leadership, moral courage, and intellectual creativity. First, as the current President of the statewide Librarians Association of the University of California, she has exercised her leadership on our behalf, keeping LAUC a relevant and vital organization. Second, she has worked tirelessly in support of the life needs of UCLA librarians, as a strong and courageous union leader. Finally, she has been a mainstay in supporting the UCLA Library's goals through her knowledge and teaching of computers and computerized systems and databases.

Serving this year as President of our statewide Librarian's Association, Miki brings a very deep knowledge of the history and functioning of this organization to the position. She has not only been around since the organization was established in 1972, but she has been Chair of LAUC-LA, and many of its committees, such as the bylaws revision committee. She uses this accumulated experience and knowledge to lead LAUC through its many concerns and ongoing projects, such as the Statement of Cultural Diversity. Further, with this background and knowledge, and also as the de facto LAUC-LA archivist, Miki was the natural choice to write the Los Angeles Division's chapter of the recently published History of LAUC.

During the past year, as the chief negotiator for the University Federation of Librarians, University Council-American Federation of Teachers, she has negotiated with campus and library administration fairly, with intellectual honesty, and with integrity. She was able to represent the line librarian's point of view clearly and articulately, and was key to bringing the salary dispute to an equitable and peaceful resolution. As one colleague noted, "Throughout the entire-months long process, she demonstrated great moral courage by remaining calm, reasonable and fair-minded, even in the face of some highly charged issues."

Finally, with her eye for detail, great enthusiasm for and knowledge of computers, computerized systems and databases, and unceasing critical judgment, Miki has been the key Melvyl contact for the UCLA Library. And this year, her leadership has been more important than ever as the statewide Division of Library Automation moves quickly to implement a new Web interface for the Melvyl system. She has shared all DLA documentation with UCLA librarians, urging us to review the interface and comment on it, and always with the best interests of users in mind. She is unfailingly generous in sharing her expert knowledge about new databases with users and any interested librarian. One of her colleagues wrote, "I have felt better able to serve the needs of the UCLA community with enthusiasm, respect and expert knowledge because of Miki's guidance and support." Another librarian wrote, "...Miki has been an important and inspiring colleague whose contributions have made us all better and more vital librarians at UCLA."

For these qualities of leadership, moral courage, intellectual creativity and her unflagging commitment to improving our computer systems and databases for our users, Miki Goral deserves to be recognized as the 1997 LAUC-LA Librarian of the Year.

Members of the 1996/97 Committee on LAUC-LA Distinguished Librarian Award are Professor Teshome Gabriel-Department of Film and Television; Norma Corral-URL Reference; Teresa Portilla Omidsalar-- College Library Reference; and Ray Soto--Bibliographers Group.