2002 CBHL Charles Robert Long Award of Extraordinary Merit to Joan De Fato

Ms Joan DeFato, Plant Sciences Librarian at The Arboretum of Los Angeles County, Arcadia, California, was chosen on April 12, 2002, by the international Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries, Inc. (CBHL), meeting in San Francisco, to receive the 2002 Charles Robert Long Award of Merit.

In their 33 year history, CBHL members have awarded this honor only 8 times before. The award, presented to Ms DeFato on Friday evening, April 12, was during the organization's 2002 closing banquet at the California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, after a week of meetings co-hosted by the California Academy and by the Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

Ms Celine Arseneault, acting CBHL 2002 president, made the presentation.

Ms DeFato, who served as president of CBHL in 1983-1984, receives the Charles Robert Long Award of Merit "in recognition of extraordinary merit; with gratitude for outstanding contributions and service to CBHL; in acknowledgment of professional encouragement to colleagues; and in appreciation for her many collaborative activities with scientists, librarians, and administrators in the plant sciences."

Joan DeFato (right) receiving award from Céline Arseneault, 2002 acting president at the Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

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	See also: Charles Robert Long Award Committee

The 2002 Award includes a framed certificate signed by the CBHL award committee, a check for $500, and life membership in CBHL. Ms DeFato received a standing ovation from her colleagues in CBHL in attendance at the Friday banquet.

The Charles Robert Long Award was named for Bob Long, the one-time New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, N.Y. institutional vice-president as well as the NYBG library's head librarian. When Bob Long died, his CBHL colleagues set up a memorial fund which they hoped would encourage members to continue the Bob Long example of service to fellow librarians and botanists, writing useful subject bibliographies, support for efforts among diverse institutions, progress in archival preservation, and professional development for librarians and archivists.

Recognition for Ms DeFato in 2002 honors her exemplary service as a librarian in the plant sciences both at The Arboretum of Los Angeles County since 1973, and, before that, at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research in Yonkers, New York. Ms DeFato has been a member of CBHL for over 25 years. She was on the Board of Directors from 1981-1985; actively participated in every CBHL annual meeting from 1978-2000; served on the Charles Robert Long Award committee from 1989-1995; and has been an active researcher for her fellow plant sciences librarians on the CBHL online distribution list since she was connected in 1997. She is a Director of the Pacific Horticultural Foundation,the publisher of Pacific Horticulture, where she has been recording secretary since 1988. She was on the search committee which hired Richard G.Turner, Jr, the current Pacific Horticulture editor, and is on the executive committee. She recently helped to compile a 20-year index to Pacific Horticulture. Joan DeFato is a long- time Special Libraries Association (SLA) member and has served in many capacities both as an officer and committee member of the Southern California Chapter (SLA). She and her Southern Californa Chapter were hosts for the national SLA meeting in Anaheim, California in 1987. She is currently the membership director for the Southern California Chapter. Joan worked with Bea Beck, librarian at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California, co-hosting the CBHL annual meeting in 1986. The Charles Robert Long Award of Merit is a well-deserved award for Joan DeFato and a tribute as well to all her colleagues both at The Arboretum of Los Angeles County, Arcadia, California, and throughout the world of plant sciences research, collections, and information services.

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