Librarian Barbara M. Pitschel received 2006 CBHL Long Award of Merit
Barbara M. Pitschel, head librarian at the Helen Crocker Russell Library, San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, received the 2006 Charles Robert Long Award of Merit on May 18, 2006 from the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries.
The Charles Robert Long Award of Merit was established to recognize members who have shown outstanding dedication to CBHL and have made major contributions in the field of botanical or horticultural literature and information service and research. The award was presented to Pitschel during CBHL’s annual meeting, hosted this year by the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
Pitschel earned a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of California-Berkeley and has been a CBHL member since 1981, when she first joined the staff of the Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture. She served as CBHL’s president in 2002-2003 and on its board of directors in 1999-2003, as well as on a wide variety of committees and as a popular conference speaker. She led the publications committee and served many years as West Coast editor of CBHL’s newsletter. She has mentored countless new members and hosted the organization’s 2002 annual meeting in San Francisco.
She was also a member of the Special Libraries Association, including their Natural History Caucus, and the Yerba Buena Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, and was a charter member of the Society for Ecological Restoration. She led the Bernal Hilltop Native Grassland Restoration Project and, with her husband, Roland, received The Trust for Public Land Award for 30 years of volunteer park stewardship.
Barbara passed away in 2010. You may read a touching tribute to her by long-time friend and CBHL member Susan Eubank in CBHL Newsletter, No. 119, November 2010.