Jean E. Lowrie

Jean Elizabeth Lowrie (October 11, 1918 – November 9, 2014) was an American librarian, educator, and president of the American Library Association from 1973 to 1974.

Education and career She received a bachelor's degree from Keuka College in 1940 and a second bachelor's degree in library science from Western Reserve University in 1941. She went on to receive a master's degree in elementary education from Western Michigan University in 1956 and her doctorate from Western Reserve University in 1959.

Her first library position was as a children's librarian in the Toledo Public Library. In 1944, she moved to Tennessee to serve as an elementary school librarian in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where she worked until 1951.

Lowrie's next position was at Western Michigan University, where she was librarian for the Campus School, a training school for future teachers.

She became a faculty member at the WMU School of Librarianship in 1958. In 1963, she became director of the program until her retirement in 1981.

Association leadership

Lowrie was President of the American Association of School Librarians from 1963-1964.

She was president of the American Library Association in 1973-1974.

Lowrie founded the International Association of School Librarianship to promote effective school librarianship and was the organization's first president from 1971 to 1977 She also served as its executive secretary from 1977 to 1996.

She also served on the executive board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

Honors The Jean E. Lowrie Endowment. Florida State University. 2013. Inaugural recipient of the American Association of School Librarians Distinguished Service Award, 1978. Keuka College presented her with its Professional Achievement Alumnae Award and an Honorary Doctor of Letters, 1973. Michigan Librarian of the year 1969.

Publications