The 2017 American Library Association (ALA) Equality Award is awarded to Haipeng Li, University Librarian at UC Merced. This annual award honors an individual or group for their outstanding contributions toward promoting equality in the library profession.
The 2017 Equality Award jury commented that “that throughout his career, Mr. Li has championed equality within the profession, to library users, and on a global level as well.” The jury highlights Li’s work as co-chair of the second National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC), and past presidency of the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA). They also note his leadership in global initiatives such as the US-China library collaboration program, “Think Globally, Act Globally.”
A nominator said of Li, “… I have seen his engagement and passion for opening the world of libraries and librarianship to people from diverse backgrounds, through his “day jobs” as well as his activities at national and international professional activities. In addition, his research, writings, and presentations have focused frequently on equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
Li, whose tenure at UC Merced began in June 2015, is full of gratitude and humility. He says “it is a real honor to be selected as the 2017 ALA Equality Award recipient by the American Library Association, the largest library association in the world. I am grateful for the recognition and would like to thank those who put forward my nomination. I am pleased to be in a position to make contributions around issues of diversity and equality that are important to my profession but also to society at large. I find these issues to be of the utmost importance, especially here at UC Merced where we are one of the most diverse campuses in the nation.”
The Equality Award, a framed citation of achievement and $1,000, will be presented to Li at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago on June 25, 2017.
Read the full press release here.
