ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR THE KWAPIL AWARD
Given June 12, 2000 at the Public Ledger Building, Philadelphia, PA.
(This is the building where Joseph F. Kwapil used to work.)
Greetings and aloha to all my old and all my new friends.I appreciate your recognition very much. For one of the few times in my life I am so overcome I can't speak, but fortunately I have made a few notes I'd like to refer to. It's appropriate that the friendliest of SLA's Divisions, our News Division, is celebrating in the City of brotherly and Sisterly Love. Philly is the birthplace of two of my heroes, no not Ben and Penn, but Marian Anderson, the great contralto, and WC Fields.
Both played a role in the type of library I created at the Arizona Daily Star. Marian inspired me from childhood in my native Oz. How did I know about her, so far way? From newspapers of course. Her example rubbed off on me. The Star Library was the first fully integrated dept. at the paper in the early 1970s. In a staff of 14, we had Hispanics, Native American, African Americans, and even a New Jerseyite!
My other Philly hero, WC Fields, meant we had fun with a capital PH! That's why a librarian you all know, whose initials are Pete Johnson quit the copydesk and went to library school, I've always secretly thought.
I give credit to my late boss and mentor, the great Frank Johnson, for whatever I achieved. He was an old style newsman, who could have been a stand-in for John Wayne. I was the first professional librarian to head up the Star's library. He said to me, " Give me the best library in the west." That was a very clear mission statement. He backed me up with adequate resources, encouraged me to visit other libraries, go to conferences etc.
During his time as editor, Frank's troops garnered every major journalism prize, including the Pulitzer. Although he taught us to fight fiercely and with integrity to scoop the competition on a daily basis, he never lost sight of the big picture, which made him a most unusual newsman. He taught me that newspapers are the bridge to a community's yesterdays. He understood that people bought the daily paper for the current events and analyses, but that a newspaper is also the memory of a town.
Now I'm Kwapilized I can pontificate and expand on this idea. I have two messages. The first is this, to never lose sight of our library's role in your town's collective memory. The news library links the lands of tomorrow and of yesterday. Just go to any public or academic library and you'll see what I mean-a hungry public poring over old newspapers, scrapbooks, and through fiche and microfilm.
My second message is: news librarians are a very lively, well-rounded and interesting breed of special librarian. In honoring me, you honor yourselves. We are all cut from the same cloth.
Some of your retired colleagues are successful playwrights, like Harish Trivedi and Lou Thomas, publishers, like Bill Chase and Andy Ippolito, writers, like Shirley Mooney, Barbara Semonche and Nan Stoddard. Then there's Jim Scofield who is involved in all things political with AHEPA. I could go on and on. Yes, there's life after the pandemonium of daily deadlines. People have asked me how I can get so much done and enjoy my life so much-I borrowed an idea I got from a conference speaker. We librarians are great at making lists. Do yourself a favor, and make a list of the 101-or more-things you want to achieve outside your library career, whether it's learning to fly, sing, dance, travel, or whatever.
So, what's on my list? I have trekked several times in the Himalaya, and am now a confirmed Nepalophile. I have a special affinity with the Sherpa people of the Everest region. Right now a Sherpa friend, Dorje Lama, who I have sponsored for English lessons, is on an Everest climb. Amazingly, we communicate by email. This time next year, I hope my dream of living and working in Nepal is a reality.
I don't know what I'll be doing there, just yet. Maybe I'll be writing, or building a library or doing community facilitation or all three. What I hope is that I can build a bridge between generations, cultures and time, much of which I learned as a news librarian I believe.
So, once again, thank you for your kind remarks Ellie, and this beautiful plaque.
Mahalo nui loa, and namaste.