University Chief Librarian Larry P. Alford has received the OCULA Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Library Association’s Ontario College and University Library Association (OCULA), one of the province’s highest honours for academic librarians. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to academic and research libraries in Ontario.

“Larry is passionate about inspiring students, supporting faculty, mentoring staff, and collaborating with colleagues,” says Guylaine Beaudry, Trenholme Dean of Libraries at McGill University, who supported the nomination. “He has been a key partner in transforming libraries into technology-driven organizations and an integral driver in advancing knowledge infrastructure in Canada.”

Over nearly five decades, Alford has built a distinguished career rooted in a deep belief in the value of academic libraries and an understanding of the evolving nature of scholarship. Nominators highlighted his leadership in expanding the Borealis Dataverse into a national shared service supporting digital research across Canada, as well as his support of groundbreaking open access partnerships that have reduced barriers to scholarship. His commitment to faculty, researchers, and students has helped transform library spaces, services, and digital infrastructure, positioning UTL to meet a rapidly changing research and technological landscape. He is also widely known for his generous mentorship of staff and future librarians.

“My role has always been user-driven—listening, learning, and determining the best path forward,” Alford says. “The joy of this work is helping students, many of whom are at the start of their life’s journeys, and enabling research that makes a difference. I’m honoured to be recognized by the OLA and grateful for the partnerships that have supported access to knowledge during this critical moment for research institutions.”

The award is a fitting recognition of a career dedicated to advancing libraries, supporting research, and strengthening access to knowledge for communities across Canada.

Larry P. Alford Receives OCULA Lifetime Achievement Award

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Larry Alford