(PIALA) — Congratulations to the 2023 HLA/PIALA Karen Peacock Memorial Award recipient, Erica Ruwepin of Yap, FSM!
This award is funded by the Hawaii Library Association and the Pacific Islands Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museums.
Ruwepin will represent HLA/PIALA in the 32nd Annual PIALA Conference “Re-evaluate, Re-focus, Re-connect: Adapting to the New Norm in the Pacific,” to be held in Koror, Republic of Palau, on Nov. 13-17, 2023. Moreover, Ruwepin will be a featured presenter during the PIALA conference as well as a contributor to HLA’s newsletter Kolekole for the Winter/Spring 2024 or Summer 2024 issue.
Ruwepin has been a librarian at the Yap State Public Library for over 10 years. Her experience in attending PIALA conferences has helped improve the work she does back home.
“Attending the PIALA conference is the only opportunity for me to learn new ideas, meet experts, network with other people in my field, and, importantly, stay updated with new trends,” said Ruwepin said.
The Dr. Karen Peacock Memorial Award was named in honor of Dr. Karen M. Peacock, who passed away in 2010. She was professor emeritus and retired curator of the Pacific Collection, Hamilton Library, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Born in Richmond, Indiana, Karen spent her childhood years in Palau, Pohnpei, and Saipan in the Micronesian region, where her father, Daniel J. Peacock, served as director of library services.
Karen was devoted to the Pacific, especially Micronesia. She gave a great deal of her time and energy to supporting the work of Pacific libraries, archives, and museums and advising and mentoring many of the islanders with whom she came into contact.
As one of the founding members of the Pacific Islands Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museums, Karen participated in many annual conferences throughout the region. The Hawaii Library Association and the Pacific Island Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museums are pleased to honor the legacy of Dr. Peacock by annually supporting this award.
PIALA President Erlinda C. Naputi of the CNMI said: “As we celebrate 25 years of the HLA/PIALA partnership this year, the HLA/PIALA partnership has been a tremendous asset to the indigenous people from the respective islands in Micronesia. It has assisted in the development of the local library, museum, and archive capacity, providing training and resources to archivists, curators, librarians, and their teams. The partnership has also helped to promote the use of libraries, archives, and museums by indigenous people and has raised awareness of their importance in the community. As a result of the partnership, libraries, museums, and archives in Micronesia are now better able to serve the needs of their communities, and indigenous people have greater access to information and resources.”
Naputi added, “Again, on behalf of the Hawaii Library Association and the Pacific Islands Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museums, we are honored to congratulate Yap Public Library’s Head Librarian Ms. Erica Ruwepin from Yap, Federated States of Micronesia on being this year’s HLA/PIALA Dr. Karen Peacock Memorial Award recipient! Cheers!”
The Pacific Islands Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museums is a Pacific regional association established in 1991 and formed to address the needs of Pacific librarians, archivists, museum staff and other information professionals, with a special geographic focus on Micronesia.
Erica Ruwepin
