Evelyn M. Poole-Kober selected for Distinguished Alumni Award

Evelyn M. Poole-Kober is the 2006 School of Information and Library Science Distinguished Alumna. The Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented to Poole-Kober during the School's commencement ceremony on May 14 where she will be recognized for her professional and personal contributions to special librarianship and for her continued support and advocacy for SILS.

Today, Poole-Kober (MSLS '97) serves as an expert sole-librarian managing all library services for the Atmospheric Sciences Modeling Division (ASMD) Library in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Air Resources Laboratory. Her areas of expertise include air pollution, meteorology, and chemistry.

Poole-Kober was a student known for her keen intellect and willingness to help others both intellectually and socially. She served as the SILS graduate representative to the Student Government and her expertise was recognized as one of two masters students to display a thesis before the SILS Board of Visitors. She was a participant in the Librarians' Association at UNC and has continued her involvement with the school through the Alumni Association and as an annual donor. Since earning her degree, Poole-Kober has actively recruited SILS students to participate in field experiences at her library and advocated for the school by promoting its programs and opportunities to potential students.

In addition to the services she provides to the EPA and NOAA communities, Poole-Kober provides library services to other Federal agencies, including Departments of Justice, Interior and Defense. Through her membership in international organization, she provides information to the international environmental science community as well.

Poole-Kober also has held leadership roles in professional organizations and within her community of Orange County, NC . She was elected chair of Atmospheric Science Librarians International (ASLI) in 2001, and has been involved with the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the Southeast Affiliate of International Association (SAIL) of Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Centers and the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA). She led the Hillsborough Planning Board as chairperson for five years, and served on the Orange County Commission for Women, School Board Task Force and the Capital Improvement Commission.

The SILS commencement ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Frank Porter Graham Student Union. Those interested in witnessing the graduation of SILS' students, as well as an opportunity to see Poole-Kober receive this prestigious award, are invited to the ceremony.

Brewster Kahle, digital librarian, director and co-founder of the Internet Archive, is the featured speaker for commencement.

A reception sponsored by the SILS Alumni Association will immediately follow the ceremony in the lobby of the Great Hall.