-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Fwd: Sad news
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:21:58 -0600
From: Pamela Enrici <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
forwarded
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: *George Porter* <[log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 4:11 PM
Subject: Sad news
To: ELDNET-L <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
James (Jim) Edward O’Donnell , July 22, 1952 – Feb. 20, 2012
<http://library.caltech.edu/news/index.php/archives/1092>
Jim O’Donnell, 59, passed away peacefully at home in Altadena, CA
surrounded by family and friends. Jim was a thoroughly modern librarian
with gusto for all things bibliographic especially if a connection could
be made to his love of cooking and his affinity for maps. Jim owned over
125 cookbooks and had maintained a blog since 2006
<http://jimodocooks.blogspot.com/> describing his favorite recipes.
Typically, he also found pleasure in cataloging all his books on
LibraryThing
<http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=jimodo&tag=cookbook
<http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=jimodo&tag=cookbook>>.
Jim was very active throughout his career in anything geosciences
information related. He held a number of leadership positions in the
Geoscience Information Society including secretary and webmaster and
published in its proceedings. He was a past president and subscription
manager for the Western Association of Map Libraries, a group that
honored him with an Award of Excellence. He served on the Georef
Advisory Council and the Geological Society of America Publications
Committee. Jim’s legacy includes numerous library assistants and newly
minted librarians that benefited from his training and mentoring over
the years.
In 1986 Jim came to Caltech from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX,
where he had been the science librarian, to take up the management of
the Geology and Planetary Sciences library. His professionalism and
knowledge had immediate impact causing then Library Director, Glenn
Brudvig, to note “his impressive record in the improvement and
development of the Geology collections and services in so short a time.”
Over the years, Jim became the go-to librarian. He was tapped to run the
Earthquake Engineering Library, luckily just before the Northridge
earthquake of 1994, and with his knowledge of the U.S. Geological Survey
and Bureau of Mines resources he was a natural to oversee the library’s
government documents collections.
In 2004 he was promoted to Head of Collections, Information and Research
Services overseeing the subject librarians and their liaison and
education activities as well as the collection purchases of the Caltech
Library. His compassionate and caring nature endures as characteristic
of his manner in facilitating change and helping staff embrace the
digital and electronic technologies affecting libraries so greatly. His
good listening skills and genuine interest in others allowed him to
touch many individuals who remember his bright blue-eyes and sense of
humor and his willingness to share so easily of himself. His joyful
role-playing as “Santa” at both Division and library holiday gatherings
certainly embodied his presence both literally and spiritually.
Jim was a born and raised Californian attending UC Berkeley for his
undergraduate degree in linguistics and then UCLA for his Masters in
Library Science. It is there that the geosciences bug bit him when he
served as acting Head of the Geology – Geophysics Library in 1981.
Jim is survived by his partner, Ben Perez, and four sisters, Joann
O’Donnell, Sheila O’Donnell Nicol, Mary O’Donnell and Anne O’Donnell. A
memorial service will be held at All Saints Church, Pasadena, CA in the
latter half of March. The family will announce preferences for donations
or other remembrances in Jim’s honor at that time. Meanwhile notes of
condolences may be sent to 3233 Alaca Dr., Pasadena, CA 91001
------ End of Forwarded Message
_______________________________________________
ELDnet-l mailing list
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/eldnet-l
|
