Barbara K. Nelson CPI Indexer of the Year Award

Barbara K. Nelson Christian Periodical Indexer of the Year Award

Barbara K. Nelson Christian Periodical Indexer of the Year award shall be recommended (when appropriate) and awarded by the CPI Team with the approval of the Board of Directors. This award is presented at the ACL Annual Conference President’s Banquet to a deserving volunteer.

This award was named in memory of Barbara K. Nelson for her impact on both the membership of the association and the growth of the Christian Periodical Index (CPI). Barbara began her membership in the Christian Librarians Fellowship (now ACL) in 1973 and immediately began building relationships and giving back to the Association. She reflected on her motivation for service in an article published in The Christian Librarian 49 (2) 2006 titled “ACL and God’s Call to Librarianship” and said ‘Because I learned so much in those early years, I was committed to giving back.’ Barbara was known for her welcoming smile, warm hugs, and remarkable memory for details about those she met and got to know. Her hospitable spirit and kind gestures are long remembered by those who knew her. She was actively involved in the Association until her death in 2006. She served in many capacities in ACL and encouraged and mentored her colleagues to do the same. The Indexer of the Year award was named after Barb shortly after her passing. Barb’s love for the mission and people of the Association, along with her years of service and great depth of knowledge of the history of ACL, are remembered in this award that now bears her name.