Stonebraker awarded top business librarian
Business/SPEA Library Head is BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Winner
Illana Stonebraker is the Head of Sciences and Social Sciences and the Business/SPEA Library at Indiana University Bloomington.
On March 30, 2026, the BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award Committee (sponsored by LSEG Data & Analytics) named Ilana Stonebraker, head, Sciences and Social Sciences and Business/SPEA Library, its 2026 winner.
The Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) is part of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) division of the American Library Association. BRASS is a network of library professionals from public, academic, and corporate settings who collaborate to educate, empower, and advance the profession while providing business-related information services in a changing information society.
"I’m especially grateful to the librarians who wrote letters of support: Wendy Pothier, Celia Ross, Steve Cramer, Heather Howard, Sarah LeMire, LuMarie Guth, Anna Marie Johnson, and Morgan Ritchie Baum. I’m deeply thankful for their support and proud to be part of this incredible BRASS community,” said Stonebraker
The Award Committee pointed out, "Stonebraker's scholarship is widely cited in business librarianship literature, illustrating 'her ability to elevate the theoretical and the practical while addressing real-world challenges.' Her strong leadership and service to the profession is demonstrated by her progressively responsible roles in ALA, including as BRASS Chair in 2020, and RUSA President in 2024. She is also known for mentoring and supporting numerous graduate students and colleagues. Her strong involvement in the Purdue Teaching Academy and her recognition as a recipient of the Purdue Libraries Excellence in Teaching Award speak to her passion for teaching and how much she is valued by her students. Her commitment to the profession, to the many faculty, students, and colleagues who benefit from her knowledge and generosity for sharing, speaks to Ilana’s joy for our professional community and the meaningful connections and contributions we make."
The BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award selection committee was chaired by Susan Klopper.
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