Carmichael Library Dedicates Pat Scales Special Collections Room A RIBBON-CUTTING AND DEDICATION ceremony took place for the University’s new Pat Scales Special Collections Room during the annual Founders’ Day activities Oct. 12. The room, located on the second floor in UM’s Carmichael Library, is named in honor of 1966 alumna Pat Scales, children’s literature expert, author, librarian and nationally recognized advocate of children’s and young adult literature and intellectual freedom. “I saw plans along the way, but seeing it today makes it more spectacular. I just hope people will use it. I want it to make Montevallo a center for the study of children’s literature,” said Scales, of seeing the room come to fruition. Scales has served on the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott and Wilder Award Committees and as president of the Association of Library Service for Children, a division of the American Library Association. She has been recognized with numerous national awards, including the 1983 AASL/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award, the 2002 ALA Movers & Shakers award and the 2016 ALSC Distinguished Service Award. This extensive Scales collection contains more than 3,000 items including first edition Caldecott and Newbery Medal-winning books,
children’s and young adult literature of historical significance, pop-up books, intellectual freedom papers, correspondence and memorabilia. Over the years, Scales has donated more than 8,000 items to Carmichael Library. “We are very appreciative of the contributions Pat Scales has made, not only to Carmichael Library, but also to the library profession. For many years, she has defended the rights of children to read, seek information and express themselves. The Special Collections Room — which includes award-winning books, banned and challenged books and books from many different time periods — reflects Pat’s interests in a wide range of literature for children and young adults. We are honored to have this collection in our library,” said Dr. Charlotte Ford, director of Carmichael Library. During the dedication ceremony, guest speaker Ellen H. Ruffin, with the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries, discussed Scales’ dedication to children’s literature and the vastness of the unique collection. The ceremony also included Scales’ nieces and nephew reading passages from their favorite children’s books. Before reading a passage, each commented on the impact Scales had on his/her love of books. Other special guests
included Jamie Naidoo, president-elect of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC); Steven Yates, president of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and Aimee Strittmatter, executive director of the Association for Library Service to Children. Beyond the books, Scales’ contribution of publishing-oriented correspondence, which will be digitized by Carmichael Library, makes the collection even more unique. “The Pat Scales Special Collections Room is the result of countless hours of work, financial generosity and material donations. It is a resource that will only continue to grow and enrich the lives of students in numerous academic fields and inform intellectual freedom and First Amendment causes. However, none of it would be possible without Pat Scales and her remarkable career. I am proud to say that I do not consider her a donor, but rather a friend who chose to continue sharing her knowledge to the world through the University of Montevallo,” said Carey Heatherly, UM archivist and special collections librarian.
Left: Pat Scales, accompanied by Dr. Stewart, Dr. Charlotte Ford, Carey Heatherly and special guests, prepares to cut the ribbon to open the special collections room; top right: Dr. Stewart presents Pat Scales with a commemorative framed photo of the new space; bottom right: The Same Sweet Girls, of which Scales is a member, join her in celebration of the new room.
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