April 25, 2024 – The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) was pleased to honor Gwen Bird as the recipient of the CARL Award for Distinguished Service to Research Librarianship during its 2024 Annual General Meeting. This award, which is generously sponsored by ProQuest, is conferred annually to a Canadian individual who has served the profession with marked distinction and has made significant national and international contributions to research librarianship through their leadership and engagement.
During her tenure as Dean of Libraries at Simon Fraser University (SFU) since October 2014, Gwen has overseen a period of remarkable growth and transformation. Leading a complex university library system with campuses in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey, Gwen has implemented innovative programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing research, learning, and collaboration. Notable achievements include the establishment of an Open Access Policy, the initiation of an annual Dean’s Lecture Series on Information + Society, and the development of a master space plan to guide the library’s renewal process.
Gwen’s leadership extends beyond SFU, as she has been actively engaged in various national and international initiatives through CARL, CRKN, ARL and CRL. Gwen’s contributions to CARL have been substantial, including her leadership of the Canadian Scholarly Publishing Working Group, where she played a pivotal role in establishing a shared vision for sustainable scholarly publishing models in Canada. Furthermore, Gwen’s involvement in initiatives such as @Risk North exemplify her dedication to advancing collaborative solutions and preserving Canada’s rich research heritage. She co-chaired the CARL/LAC Canadian Collective Print Strategy Working Group, laying the groundwork for the enduring collective shared print program, North/Nord, across Canadian libraries.
Gwen served as the Vice-Chair of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) from 2017 to 2021, overseeing the successful implementation of key projects and advocating for collaborative solutions in scholarly communication. She also served as co-chair of the Coalition Publica Steering Committee, underscoring her commitment to ensuring equitable access to scholarly research in the humanities and social sciences.
Throughout her career, Gwen has been recognized for her outstanding interpersonal skills, her advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and her tireless efforts to foster a culture of collaboration and innovation within the research library community. Lesley Balcom (Dean of Libraries, University of New Brunswick) aptly describes Gwen as “a wonderful colleague – humble, friendly and fun, ready to share her strategic insights with a calm and always respectful approach.”
CARL congratulates Gwen Bird on this well-deserved recognition and expresses gratitude to all those who supported her nomination.
CARL is grateful to ProQuest LLC, part of Clarivate, for its generous support of this award.
