User:Hellensnow/Henrietta M. Smith

Henrietta M. Smith (1922–present), Professor Emerita, was the first African-American professor at the University of South Florida, School of Library and Information Science and also taught at Florida Atlantic University. She is the editor of the Coretta Scott King Award Book: From Vision to Reality (Chicago: American Library Association, 1994) and The Coretta Scott King Award Book: 1970-1999 (Chicago: American Library Association, 1999). In 2008, she was selected as the recipient of the Association for Library Service to Children's (ALSC) Distinguished Service Award, which honors an individual ALSC member who has made significant contributions to library service to children and ALSC.

Education and Her Favorites
Henrietta M. Smith was born on May 2, 1922 in Harlem, New York. She is the daughter of Nettie Johnson, and Henry Lucas. Smith studied English and history in Hunter College, and received her B.A in 1943. Then she attended Columbia University, and earned her B.S. and M.S. in Library Science in 1946 and 1959. In 1975, she completed her doctorate degree in curriculum and supervision at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.

Her favorite color is blue or yellow, and food is Chicken Wing & Tuna Salad. Her life quote is “Take time to smell the roses.”

Library Career and Contributions
After graduating, Smith began her library career at the New York Public Library as a children's librarian, then she joined the Florida Atlantic University, and became an instructor in the College of Education, and has also been a school media specialist & consultant for Broward County. She retired in 1993,but remained her position as a Professor Emerita.

Smith has been an active ALA member in many divisions for more than 40 years. She has been on the ALSC Legislation Committee and Oral History Committee, as well as the YALSA Quick Picks Committee and the AASL (American Association of School Librarians) Cultural Diversity Task Force. In 2008, she was selected as the recipient of the Association for Library Service to Children's (ALSC) Distinguished Service Award.

Award Received and Professional Memberships

 * Coretta Scott King Book Award (1990-1993), America Library Association.
 * Recipient of the Association for Library Service to Children's (ALSC) Distinguished Service Award (2008).
 * Dr. Henrietta Smith to serve on the Caldecott Award Selection Committee (2010).
 * Employment Service Human Resource Champions Award Winners.