Volume 53, Issue 3 —— Summer 2026
Jeff Bond
Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations. And a personal thank you to NuRee Lee and John Kromer, fellow awards committee members, who devoted their time and efforts to the committee this year.
Congratulations to our winners!!!
PAM Achievement Award – Chris Doty
PAM Division Award – STEM Librarians Collaborative
Please see the award text below.
PAM Achievement Award
The PAM Achievement Award is reserved for those recipients whose professional work is marked by distinction and dedication to librarianship in astronomy, mathematics and/or physics. The purpose of the award is to recognize those Division members who have made outstanding contributions to the Division.
Richard Christopher “Chris” Doty is honored for his sustained and deeply impactful service to the Physics-Astronomy-Mathematics Division of the Special Libraries Association, as well as for his broader contributions to science librarianship.
Chris’s connection to PAM began early in his career when he was awarded the Louise Leckner Memorial Travel Stipend, an experience that helped launch his long and active involvement in the Division. Since joining PAM in 2014, he has become one of its most dedicated and reliable contributors, consistently giving his time, expertise, and energy in support of the community.
Over the past decade, Chris has played a central role in shaping how PAM connects and communicates. Since 2016, he has served as Webmaster and Chair of the Networking Committee, strengthening the Division’s digital presence and ensuring that members remain informed and engaged. His work in this area has been both visible and behind the scenes, including preserving PAM’s history by archiving its website in the Wayback Machine, which continues to serve as an important record of the Division’s activities. During a period when SLA’s website was compromised, affecting many divisions, Chris Doty’s steady stewardship and technical expertise were critical in maintaining continuity and access for PAM members.
Chris Doty’s leadership was especially important during a period of broader disruption and uncertainty. From 2020 through 2023, he served as Chair-Elect, Chair, and Past Chair of PAM, and he continued as Past Chair for an additional term during the pandemic. In these roles, he provided thoughtful and steady guidance, helped the Division adapt to changing circumstances, and ensured that programming and engagement remained strong.
Chris has also contributed widely across the Division through service on the PAM 50th Anniversary Task Force, the Hospitality Committee, and the Nominations and Elections Committee, among others. He has consistently stepped forward to support the Division’s governance, celebrate its history, and help cultivate its future leadership.
In his professional role as Science Librarian for Chemistry and Physics at Emory University, Chris advances research, teaching, and scholarly communication in the disciplines at the core of PAM. His publications and presentations reflect a deep and ongoing engagement with the issues shaping science librarianship.
In 2025, Chris was named a Fellow of the Special Libraries Association, a recognition that speaks to the respect he has earned across the profession.
Through his sustained leadership, technical contributions, and genuine commitment to the PAM community, Chris Doty has made a lasting difference to the Division and is a most deserving recipient of the PAM Achievement Award.
PAM Division Award
The PAM Division Award recognizes a significant contribution to the literature in physics, astronomy, and/or mathematics that benefits libraries, enhances the ability of librarians to provide service, and improves the exchange of information.
The STEM Librarians Collaborative (STEMLibCo) emerged through the vision, dedication, and collective efforts of PAM librarians and industry partners in response to concerns about the potential insolvency of the Special Libraries Association (SLA). Members of the PAM community conducted a survey to better understand the professional development needs and priorities of their colleagues. The results revealed a strong desire for broader connections across STEM disciplines and interest in a conference focused on STEM librarianship as a whole.
Building on those findings, members of the survey group began reaching out to colleagues in related organizations, including ACRL’s Science and Technology Section (STS), to explore the feasibility of creating something new. These conversations expanded the effort, bringing together individuals whose ideas, expertise, and leadership helped shape the vision for STEMLibCo.
From its inception, STEMLibCo was guided by a commitment to affordability, accessibility, active participation, and practical problem-solving. The organization sought to create an inclusive and welcoming space where STEM librarians could move beyond traditional conference agendas and address the issues and challenges they encounter in their work. This commitment is reflected not only in its low-cost conference model but also in its emphasis on community engagement and year-round networking opportunities, including an active Discord community that enables members to connect, collaborate, and support one another beyond the annual virtual conference.
STEMLibCo was not the work of a single individual but the result of a remarkable grassroots effort. The founding 2021 committee, together with numerous contributors who served in unofficial yet essential roles, transformed a period of uncertainty into a vibrant and sustainable professional community. Their collective leadership established an organization that continues to foster connection, collaboration, innovation, and professional growth for PAM members and the broader STEM librarian community.
We would like to recognize and thank the following individuals for their leadership in launching the first STEMLibCo in 2021 Kayleigh Bohemier, Sharice Collins, Leslie Eager, Samuel Hansen, Jenny Hart, Nastasha Johnson, Laura Palumbo, Donna Thompson, and Alyssa Young.