Frances E. Henne

Frances E. Henne (October 11, 1906 – December 21, 1985) was an American librarian and a long-time professor at the Columbia University School of Library Service. Henne pursued a life of education and became a leader and expert in creating standards for school librarians. In 1999, American Libraries named her one of the "100 Most Important Leaders We Had in the 20th Century."

Early life and education

Henne was born in Springfield, Illinois in October 1906. Henne graduated from the University of Illinois in 1929 with a BA degree, and then went on to receive her master's degree in English in 1934. During her schooling, Henne was introduced to the library profession while working at the Lincoln Public Library. She practiced what she preached and began her doctoral studies in 1939 and obtained her doctorate degree in 1949. Her doctoral studies were focused on school libraries and school library standards, and she continued to focus on school libraries and reshaping and revising standards throughout the rest of her career.

According to Diane Kester and Plummer Alston Jones Jr., these standards helped to delineate and distinguish the responsibilities of school librarians and public librarians and they pushed for school librarians to work with teachers and educators on "teaching library skills education in the context of subject-based learning".

She also promoted librarians who trained both in the education and in library science fields. Henne wrote, "The successful elementary school librarian knows children, likes children, and enjoys working with them…"

In 1969 she was Henne was the primary leader of the joint AASL-DAVI committee (American Association of School Librarians and Department of Audiovisual Instruction, National Education Association) that issued Standards for School Media Programs.

Henne also believed that children who used and had access to library services achieved more than children who did not. She was frustrated with so many adults and educators who did not see the value or importance of a school library and thus did not put any effort into supporting or funding the library. Henne wrote, "A belief in the school library represents the belief in the right of every boy and girl to have the pleasures, the understandings, and the experiences that come from sharing the best in the recorded impressions and expressions of mankind." To fill the gaps of individual libraries and small schools with very few resources, Henne supported library networks of both school and public libraries. Henne spent the rest of her career advocating for both the school library and the media center. She wrote and published several books and articles on the subject and tried to show the potential of a library that lived up to the recognized standards. Henne wrote in one article that "standards must thus be continuously revised to reflect the changes and to meet the educational needs of the times."

Legacy In 1963 Frances E. Henne was honored with the Joseph W. Lippincott Award. She received a special citation in 1976 at the centennial of the American Library Association.

Henne died on December 21, 1985, at the age of 79 after suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. Even though no family survived her death, Henne's legacy has lived on in the world of School Libraries. A year after her death, the American Association of School Librarians set up the AASL Frances Henne Award. According to AASL, the award "recognizes a school library media specialist with five years or less experience who demonstrates leadership qualities with students, teachers and administrators." Recipients of this award are given funds to travel to their first AASL conference or ALA Annual. Even after her death, Henne is helping librarians further their education and stay current in their field. Henne recognized the fact that continual education and self-improvement was essential to librarians in helping them keep libraries constantly evolving to meet the needs of patrons.

Selected Publications

Notes and references