On June 22, 1999, the Ohio University News Release announced: "In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Ohio University's Board of Trustees named a new library building the 'Hwa-Wei Lee Annex' and conferred on Dr. Lee the title of Dean of Libraries Emeritus. A permanent office in the Library Annex has been provided to Dr. Lee for his use after retirement."
Dr. Lee's great retirement honor was generated from his lifetime dedication to libraries and his 40-year distinguished career in academic libraries. During his 21-years as the Dean of University Libraries at Ohio University, the University Libraries experienced unprecedented growth and progress under his skillful leadership. The reorganization of the library resulted in more efficient service becoming one of the founding members in OhioLink, a statewide system pooling materials of all major academic libraries into one unified entity. Library endowments grew to over $8 millions, major renovations were accomplished, a regional annex was constructed, the first digitization project was secured, and library acquisitions exceeded two million volumes. The Library has become one of the top 121 research libraries in the United States and Canada, achieving membership in the highly competitive and prestigious Association of Research Libraries (Ohio University News Release, June 22, 1999).
Dr. Lee was also a model of international contribution. Under his administration, an international librarian exchange program was created and developed, and the unique status of depository for four countries was achieved, which allows the Library to receive depository publications from these countries on a continuing basis. He left footprints in five continents as a library consultant and lecturer. "He is a world citizen and a remarkable role model to students and colleagues alike. His career has advanced scholarship and human understanding while setting unparalleled standards of service, loyalty, honor, honesty, and integrity" (Friends of Hwa-Wei Lee Committee, June 22, 1999). His tireless effort in promoting the practice of the boundless modern libraries has made him internationally known (Hong, 1997).
The American Library Association (ALA) also commended Dr. Lee's remarkable contributions to the American, Asian, Chinese and international librarianship. With a resolution, ALA sent a congratulatory note upon the event of his retirement. Dr. Lee served the American Library Association in a variety of capacities, including as a Councilor-at-Large, and the Chair of the Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific of the International Relations Committee. He also served actively at the Ohio Library Association as a Board Director, was recognized as the Ohio Librarian of the Year in 1987, and was appointed as a delegate to the White House Conference on Library and Information Services in 1991. Dr. Lee was past president of Chinese American Librarians Association, and was the recipient of the CALA Distinguished Services Award in 1984. His valuable contributions also extended to the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA). He was the recipient of the APALA Distinguished Services Award in 1983. In addition, Dr. Lee was a much sought after lecturer and consultant in many Asian countries and organized five international conferences. He is the author of three books and more than sixty articles (ALA/IRC East Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee, June 1999). More recently, the Ohio Library Council named him "Hall of Fame Librarian" of 1999. It is the highest honor one can receive as a librarian in Ohio. (From Mengxiong Liu, "The History and Status of Chinese Americans in Librarianship", Library Trends, v. 49, n. 1 , 2000).
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