Remembering Liz Glankler

A few weeks ago I received an email message bearing the sad news that Liz Glankler, longtime member of the CS-SIS and a good friend, had died.  Liz, who was a librarian at St. Louis University School of Law, had been diagnosed with cancer a few years ago.

I met Liz in the mid-1990’s, when she was at the University of Memphis School of Law Library. She was already an active member of the section.  Liz was instrumental in building the section’s presence at CONELL and in the exhibit hall.  She would buy unusual swag – I think we called them tchotchkes – to give to new attendees.  These included toys and phone cards; the latter were popular giveaways before nearly everyone owned a smartphone.  Liz was willing to schlep the prizes from home to the annual meeting and back again.  Liz served several years as editor of the section newsletter, and served on the board as secretary and chair.

I remember dining with Liz at the Three Happiness Chinese restaurant in Chicago at the close of the 1995 CALI Conference.  Liz related stories about her sons that made it very clear how important they and the rest of her family were to her. As devoted as she was to our section, her family was the real light that shined in her eyes.

I was very honored that Liz was the next recipient of the “Ken” award from the section in 2006 – she was the second awardee, and I cannot imagine anyone else whom I would have rather seen selected.  She was a bright light in our profession, a great friend, and I will miss her tremendously.  I hope we can all raise a glass in her memory at the CS-SIS breakfast meeting in Boston.