Alumnus Allen Lanham (MS '91) has been named an Illinois Library Luminary by the Illinois Library Association (ILA). This distinction honors individuals whose efforts have made a significant contribution to Illinois libraries.
Lanham epitomizes a breadth of service to Illinois libraries that would be difficult to duplicate. As professor and dean of library services at Eastern Illinois University for twenty-five years, he still found time to serve on public library and library system boards, be elected president of the ILA, and serve on the ILA board and too many committees to mention. Among his many recognitions and awards, he was named ILA Academic Librarian of the Year in 2008. Lanham is a regular contributor to the ILA Reporter, with a distinctive style and wit, and is a keen observer of trends and changes in the library profession. His perspective takes in points of view across the spectrum, from new librarians to old hands, public to academic, local and state to national.
During his tenure at Eastern, he encouraged a wide range of library programming in the arts and humanities and has been the principal investigator for Art and Architecture in Illinois Libraries since 2006. He has consulted for libraries in Central and South America and Africa. Prior to his impressive career in libraries, Lanham was a professor of music in Puerto Rico and an instrumental music teacher, holding a doctorate in music education from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester.