From semonch@sunsite.unc.edu Sat Jan 10 23:19:00 1998
Subject: Sara Aull
I have just learned that long-time SLA member Sara Aull passed
away yesterday evening. She had been losing ground over the past
several months after suffering a stroke, and on Friday evening
suffered another stroke that proved fatal.
I first met Sara when she was the Science Librarian at the
University of Houston 'way back before I ever went to library
school. My father sent me to talk to Sara about becoming a
special librarian. He had met her in the early '60s when he was
attending Texas Chapter SLA meetings trying to "steal" a special
librarian for the Texaco Research Labs.
Sara was my first mentor in the library profession and has been
my friend ever since. She was totally involved in the activities
of the Texas Chapter and, as I recall, the Sci-Tech Division. She
had taken early retirement in about 1972 or 73 to return to North
Carolina to care for her mother, but remained an SLA member and
was as active as she could be in the North Carolina chapter for
many years.
She was always an advocate for the library school student. In
fact, the North Carolina Chapter named its student paper award in
honor of her many years ago. Although she never held Association
level office (or at least not that I remember), she was always as
actove as she could be at all levels of SLA, and in 1973 was
given the SLA Hall of Fame Award.
SLA member Larry Besant of Morehead State University called this
evening with the news. He did not have any details of the funeral
arrangements, but said that he had asked Sara's sister, Mabel, to
forward a copy of the obituary to the SLA office.
I suspect that a card addressed to Sara's family at her home
address will reach the appropriate people. That address is:
201 West Rice Street
Landis, NC 28088
From laura_gasaway@unc.edu Mon. Jan 12 09:34:00 1998
Didi,
I thank you so much for sending this sad message. Sara
was a mentor to met too. In 1966 she interviewed me for an SLA
scholarship, and I got it even though I wanted to be a law
librarian.
Then, she told Al Coco at the University of Houston
about me, and he hired me when I finished library school in
1968. Sara was at UH and remained a friend and mentor until her
retirement. Because of her, I stayed active in SLA and the
Texas Chapter.
Lolly
Laura N. Gasaway Phone: 919-962-1049
Director of the Law Library &
Professor of Law Fax: 919-962-1193
CB # 3385
University of North Carolina e-mail: laura_gasaway@unc.edu
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
From: "Robertson.Dav"
To: "'Hull, Peggy'"
Cc: "'Semonche, Barbara'"
Subject: Sara Aull and NCSLA
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 09:55:24 -0500
Peggy,
I'm sure you saw Barbara's posting regarding Sara Aull's death. Have
you thought about doing something on behalf of NCSLA? I would like to
suggest that we do something--in addition to sending a sympathy card.
Maybe it's time to increase the amount of the Sara Aull Award? I wonder
if we could even make personal donations to NCSLA earmarked for that?
Perhaps Barbara has some other suggestions?
I had a long-standing relationship with Sara that started around 1975
when she was part of a 2-member team Dr. Holley appointed to evaluate
the EPA Internship program. Then, when I became active in NCSLA, Sara
encouraged me to be the Business Manager of the Bulletin where I worked
closely with her as Editor. That was my first position in SLA and
really got me started. She was one of about four librarians who have
greatly influenced my career, so you can see why I'm so interested in
pursuing this.
--Dav