Donna Scheeder Explained

Donna Scheeder
Birth Name:Donna Wills Scheeder[1]
Birth Date:8 November 1947
Birth Place:Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Death Date:[2]
Death Place:Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma Mater:Georgetown University
Occupation:Librarian
Organisation:International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

Donna Wills Scheeder (November 8, 1947 – March 7, 2022) was an American librarian who was president of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) from 2015 to 2017, under the theme "Libraries: A Call to Action".[3] [4] Scheeder participated in the IFLA Governing Board for 6 years.

Career

Scheeder was Deputy Director of Information in the Research Service of the Library of Congress of the USA, Director of Services in the Library of Law of Congress and participated in the Permanent Commission of Library and Research Services for Parliaments.[5] She was a member of the Library of Congress Advisory Council.[6]

Donna Scheeder was the former president of the International Federation of Library Associations. During her tenure, she visited the Russian State Library on the initiative of the Margarita Rudomino State Library of Foreign Literature.[7] She spoke frequently about the contributions made by libraries to advance the achievement of the UN 2030 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.[8]

Scheeder retired in March 2015 as deputy chief information officer for the Congressional Research Service after a long career at the US Library of Congress, which included 5 years as Director of Legal Library Services.[9] She was past president of the IFLA Section of Libraries and Research Services for Parliaments and trained parliamentary librarians in many countries around the world.[10]

Scheeder was an early advocate of integrating computers into libraries and introduced a number of new services throughout her career, including establishing the first collection of legal blogs and instituting the Electronic Briefing Book product for Congress. She was on the organizing committees of the Computers in Libraries and Internet Librarian conferences.[11]

Personal life

Scheeder lived on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. She was a founding member of the Hill Center Board of Directors and also served as Chair of the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee.[12]

Scheeder died from cancer at home on March 7, 2022, at the age of 74.[13]

Awards and distinctions

In 2004, Scheeder received the John Cotton Dana Award in recognition of her services to librarianship.[14]

In 2009, Scheeder received the Federal Librarians Achievement Award. In the same year she was awarded the Community Achievement Award in large part due to this service.[15]

In 2019, Scheeder was made an Honorary Member of the IFLA for her achievements, dedication and service to IFLA, particularly in the areas of organizational transformation of IFLA and in the defense of libraries within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.[16]

Scheeder was inducted into the Association of School Libraries Hall of Fame for her work in the field of library science and for her experience and leadership.[17] She was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Special Libraries Association for her work in library science and her contributions to that association.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Donna Wills Scheeder . John T Rhines Funeral Home . November 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220528165534/https://www.johntrhines.com/obituary/Donna-Scheeder . May 28, 2022.
  2. Web site: Vale Donna Scheeder 1947-2022 . March 8, 2022 . International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions . April 1, 2022.
  3. Web site: IFLA -- Donna Scheeder (2015-2017). www.ifla.org. 2020-04-20.
  4. Web site: Donna Scheeder. CILIP.
  5. Book: Library of Congress Information Bulletin. 2010. 50, 110. en.
  6. News: Donna Scheeder 1947-2022 . The Washington Post . November 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220313095044/https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/donna-scheeder-obituary?id=33605174 . March 13, 2022.
  7. Web site: Visit of Ms. Donna Scheeder to the Russian State Library. www.rsl.ru. en. 2020-04-20.
  8. Web site: IFLA President Donna Scheeder promotes UN SDGs during Bulgaria's 12th National Library Week . May 23, 2017 . International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions . April 1, 2022.
  9. Web site: Library of Congress Staff News (March 2010) - Library of Congress Information Bulletin. www.loc.gov. 2020-04-20.
  10. Book: Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the United States Congress. 2010. U.S. Government Printing Office. en.
  11. Web site: Keynote: Donna Scheeder. Continue. answering theses simple questions: …. www.nextlibrary.net. en. 2020-04-20. 2021-06-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20210620042209/https://www.nextlibrary.net/page/keynote-donna-scheeder-2015. dead.
  12. Web site: Donna Wills Scheeder - IGF-USA Wiki. wiki.igf-usa.org. 2020-04-20. 2020-04-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20200407033822/https://wiki.igf-usa.org/Donna_Wills_Scheeder. dead.
  13. News: O'Gorek . Elizabeth . EMCAC Chair Donna Scheeder Dies Peacefully at Home . 9 March 2022 . Hill Rag . 8 March 2022.
  14. Loo. Shirley. 2004. Fabulous Feds. Federal Librarian. 21-23. 9.
  15. Web site: Oral History - Donna Scheeder. 2009-02-07. Capitol Hill History Project - Oral History. en-US. 2020-04-22.
  16. Web site: Honours and Awards at the IFLA WLIC 2019 Closing Session. 2019-08-29. IFLA WLIC 2019. en-GB. 2020-04-20.
  17. Web site: Applause to New SLA Hall of Famers . Information Today . June 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200407134501/https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-223373986/applause-to-new-sla-hall-of-famers . April 7, 2020.