Penn State librarian receives national distance learning librarianship award

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Victoria “Torrie” Raish, Penn State University Libraries online learning librarian who supports Penn State World Campus students and faculty, was honored with the 2019 ACRL Routledge Distance Learning Librarianship Conference Sponsorship Award at a luncheon on Saturday, June 22, during the American Library Association's 2019 Annual Conference and Exhibition, held June 20-25 in Washington, D.C.

The annual award, sponsored by Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group and administrated by the Association of College and Research Libraries' (ACRL) Distance Learning Section, recognizes an ACRL member working in the field of, or contributing to, the success of distance learning librarianship or related library service in higher education.

“Torrie Raish has made significant contributions to the field of distance librarianship,” said award co-chairs Melissa Atkinson, Abilene Christina University online learning librarian, and Cynthia Thomes, University of Maryland University College reference and instruction librarian. “Her various efforts include creating an embedded librarian program and information literacy repository, starting an equivalent access e-book program, and collaborating with other departments at Penn State to start a digital badge initiative.”

“Her publications include peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapter, invited papers and conference proceedings, and she has given numerous presentations at the international, national, state and local level,” Atkinson and Thomes added. “Furthermore, her collaborations with departments and stakeholders at her institution have given online students greater access to the resources they need. Torrie is a leader on her campus, and her work to serve distance learners is being increasingly and deservedly recognized.”

Raish received an undergraduate degree in biology from Mercyhurst University, a master of arts degree in secondary science teaching from the University of Southern California, and a doctorate in learning, design and technology from Penn State.

Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group is one of the world’s leading publishers of academic journals. ACRL, a division of the American Library Association, represents more than 10,000 individuals and libraries, and develops programs, products and services to help those working in academic and research libraries learn, innovate and lead within the academic community.