Ormond Beach, Fla. – University of Iowa Libraries Preservation Processing Coordinator Librarian Shelby Strommer is the recipient of the 2019 Jan Merrill-Oldham Professional Development Grant.

Sponsored by the Library Binding Council of the Book Manufacturers’ Institute (BMI), the $1,250 grant fosters professional development through active participation at the national level, and covers American Library Association’s Annual Conference costs, such as transportation to Washington, D.C., lodging, and registration fees.

The ALA acknowledges Shelby Strommer’s many notable accomplishments, including her work in the Preservation & Conservation department at the University of Iowa Libraries, the coordinating of workflows for daily marking procedures, her effectiveness as a mentor and manager, and her participation in regional library organizations such as the Iowa Library Association (ILA), Iowa Conservation and Preservation Consortium (ICPC) and Upper Midwest User Group of ELUNA (Ex Libris Users of North America).

Executive Director of BMI Matt Baehr said, “Librarians are often the unsung heroes of our culture, and BMI is proud to offer the Professional Development Grant to help Shelby Strommer get to the ALA Conference this year—and to support her and her work in preservation and conservation.”

Award recipient Shelby Strommer said, “This grant would allow me to expand my professional development activities to the national level, and continue to cultivate my skills to become a more effective mentor to my students and well-informed caretaker of our collections.”

Shelby Strommer will be recognized by her peers during the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) Awards Ceremony on June 22, 2019, in Washington, D.C. at the American Library Association’s 2019 Annual Conference.