Chair of the UCLA Department of Information Studies and director of the California Rare Book School chosen for his international contributions to critical, ethical, and justice-oriented work in public libraries.
Robert D. Montoya, associate professor and chair of the UCLA Department of Information Studies, has been elected to the American Antiquarian Society, in recognition of his contributions to bibliography and information studies and for advancing ethical practices in libraries and cultural heritage institutions.
“It’s such an honor to be recognized by my colleagues for making even the smallest impact in the field,” says Professor Montoya. “I look forward to the collaborations that this affiliation might offer in terms research opportunities and professional partnerships.”
At UCLA, Montoya is the Martin and Bernard Breslauer Endowed Professor in Bibliography; director of UCLA California Rare Book School, and director of the UCLA Library, Ethics, and Justice Lab. His research trajectory focuses on special collections and rare books; book history; knowledge organization; international library development and publishing; information representation and positionality; and critical, ethical, and justice-oriented LIS work. Professor Montoya is an expert in rare books and print culture; library science and studies; library continuing education and pedagogy; international library development; and biodiversity informatics, with a specific emphasis on museum environments.
Professor Montoya achieved his PhD and his MLIS with a specialization in rare books, print and visual culture at UCLA, and his MFA in creative writing from Antioch University, Los Angeles. His work has been funded by The Mellon Foundation, National Science Foundation; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History; the U.S. State Department; the U.S. Embassy, Kosovo; and the National Library of Kosovo.
The American Antiquarian Society cultivates a deeper understanding of the American past, grounded in its ever-growing collection of printed and manuscript sources, and fosters a community of inquiry through inclusive programs and generous support for scholarship by people of all backgrounds and experiences to participate in collecting, preserving, and sharing America’s and Americans’ diverse stories. The society’s international membership includes 14 U.S. presidents 80 Pulitzer Prize winners, and numerous winners of Bancroft Prizes, Guggenheim Fellowships, and MacArthur Awards.
Photo by Michael Tyrone Delaney