Shaw, Spencer G.

Professional storyteller and University of Washington professor of Library and Information Science.

Spencer G. Shaw taught at a number of universities and served on the faculty of the University of Washington as a professor of Library and Information Science from 1970 through 1986. He was also a practicing librarian in the Nassau Library System, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Hartford Public Library. Shaw specialized in children's literature and storytelling. In 1986, the UW Graduate School of Library and Information Science established the Spencer G. Shaw Lectureship in his honor. Following his retirement, he continued to be active internationally as a storyteller and lecturer.

Spencer G. Shaw is a professor emeritus in the University of Washington's Information School. He completed his undergraduate work at Hampton University in Hampton, VA, received a B.L.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and continued advanced studies at the University of Chicago Graduate Library School.

Shaw taught at Drexel University, Queens College, Syracuse University, Virginia State University, the University of Maryland, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the University of Illinois, the University of Wisconsin - Madison, the University of North Carolina - Greensboro, the University of North Texas, and the University of Washington, where he was on the faculty of the School of Library and Information Science from 1970 through 1986. He was also a practicing librarian in the Nassau Library System, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Hartford Public Library.

Dr. Shaw's research and teaching areas included library materials for children, multi-cultural materials for children and young adults, the art and techniques of storytelling, the history of children's literature, library service to special populations, international librarianship, and library services and programs for the aging. From 1961 to 1968 he was the scriptwriter and narrator of a radio program, Story Hour on the Air, Let's Go to the Library, produced by radio station WHLI, Hempstead, Long Island, NY, and sponsored by the Nassau Library System.

Dr. Shaw lectured widely, traveling to New Zealand, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Japan, Cyprus, Canada, Australia, and Mexico. He was a member of numerous committees of the American Library Association including the Newbery/Caldecott Awards Committees; the Laura Ingalls Wilder Awards Committee; the ALA Board of Directors; the Book Evaluation Committee; the Nominations, Policies and Procedures Committee; and the International Relations Committee. He received the Nancy Blankenship Pryor Award, the Nordstrom Community Service Award, the Distinguished Service Award presented by the American Library Association, and the Grolier Foundation Award. In 1986, the University of Washington established the Spencer G. Shaw Honor Lecture Series.