Background
Thomas John Galvin was born on December 30, 1932, in Arlington, Massachusetts, United States.
Thomas Galvin, educator, librarian, writer, author.
Thomas Galvin was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Thomas Galvin was a member of Beta Phi Mu.
Thomas Galvin, educator, librarian, writer, author.
Thomas Galvin was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Thomas Galvin was a member of Beta Phi Mu.
Thomas Galvin's colleague Margaret Mary Kimmel, educator, librarian, author.
https://www.amazon.com/Problems-Reference-Service-Thomas-Galvin/dp/B000NQ51AK/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&qid=1612045452&refinements=p_27%3AThomas+J+Galvin&s=books&sr=1-3
1966
https://www.amazon.com/Problems-Reference-problem-centered-approaches-librarianship/dp/0835204251/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&qid=1612045452&refinements=p_27%3AThomas+J+Galvin&s=books&sr=1-2
1971
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0810806460/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1
1973
https://www.amazon.com/Structure-governance-library-networks-consideration/dp/B004HILY6K/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1612045452&refinements=p_27%3AThomas+J+Galvin&s=books&sr=1-1
1979
educator Librarian writer author
Thomas John Galvin was born on December 30, 1932, in Arlington, Massachusetts, United States.
Thomas Galvin received a Bachelor of Arts in English with distinction from Columbia University in 1954, a Master of Library Science from Simmons College in 1956, and a Doctor of Philosophy in library and information science from Case Western Reserve University in 1973.
Known for his expertise in referencing, Thomas Galvin began his career in 1954 as a reference librarian at Boston University. He served as a chief librarian at the Abbot Public Library in 1956-1959, then became an assistant director of libraries at Simmons College (now University). In 1962, he joined the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Simmons. He was named an associate dean and professor there in 1972, before coming to the University of Pittsburgh in 1974. He was a dean of the School of Information Sciences (SIS) in 1974-1985.
Following his deanship at SIS, Galvin served as an executive director of the American Library Association (ALA) until 1989. He had been a president of ALA in 1979-1980 and at the time of his departure from ALA as an executive director, he was one of only seven people who had served in both capacities. He was also appointed in 1980 by the secretary of state to the United States National Commission on UNESCO.
In 1989, he went to the State University of New York (SUNY) in Albany as a professor of information science and policy at the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. He also was the director of SUNY-Albany's interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in information science until he retired in 1999.
Galvin's expertise was in reference books, and he authored and edited several of these himself, including Current Problems in Reference Service (1971), Priorities for Academic Libraries (1982), and Smart IT Choices (1996).
Thomas Galvin was the recipient of many awards and honors. During his 10-year tenure as director and professor at SUNY-Albany, Galvin developed a strong campus-wide community of scholars in sponsorship of a unique interdisciplinary program of research in information science. Involving faculty from six academic units at the university and building on close linkages with practicing information professionals, the Ph.D. program produced dozens of graduates, who now bring their research skills to bear on important problems in academic, government, and private sectors. During his tenure as a dean of the School of Information Sciences, it more than doubled its enrollment, added 10 degrees and a certificate program, and increased its annual budget from $775,000 to $2.5 million. Galvin led the way in developing SIS's information science programs, making the school at that time the largest, most diversified school of the information professions in the world. A scholarship was established at the School of Information Sciences in Galvin's name. He was the author, co-author, or editor of nearly 20 books and more than 100 published articles and reports.
Thomas Galvin was thoughtful, widely read, and had a wry sense of humor. He had a way of looking at the world that was not based on cynicism, but he was able to see the foibles of people, including himself, and laugh about them. In addition to being a first-rate scholar, Galvin was a gentle nurturer of people. He once stated, "The greatest source of personal satisfaction for me is in the scholarly and professional career achievements of former students."
Quotes from others about the person
Blanche Woolls, who taught at the School of Information Sciences from 1973 to 1997 and is a former chair of the then-Department of Library Science, said, "Tom was serious about library education, the high regard in which our program was held at the University and the achievements of everyone involved in the school. One thing he often said as dean when hearing about our successes: "You make me look good."
Thomas Galvin married Marie C. Schumb in 1956. He had a daughter Siobhan Wee.
Colleague Margaret Kimmel credited Thomas Galvin, whom she had met when he was at Simmons College, with launching her career. "He's the reason I'm teaching today. He was my mentor and he urged me to get a Ph.D., despite my reluctance. He was a very good friend and a leader in the field, with a fine grasp of the political aspects of the field and of the University in his capacity as dean," she said. Kimmel was a professor in the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh where she taught children's literature and courses related to the provision of information services to young people.
