The School of Communication and Information Alumni Association is pleased to announce the recipient of their 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award: Norma Blake.  You are invited to join the SC&I Alumni Association in honoring Norma at the Annual Distinguished Alumni Award Dinner on May 16, 2013.  The SC&I Alumni Association has a long tradition of hosting the Annual Dinner to honor a notable alumnus with its Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes renowned contributors to the fields of communication, journalism, information technology and informatics, or library studies.  The Annual Awards Dinner provides an opportunity for all SC&I alumni to recognize the accomplishments of their colleagues and reconnect with each other and their school.

SC&I Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner
Date: May 16, 2013
Time: 6:00-8:00PM
Location: The Rutgers Club - 199 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Cost: $40 (includes dinner and dessert)

RSVP: Please RVSP online at Ralumni.com/Nbreunion or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You can also register directly with the SC&I Alumni Association here:

Or mail your check payable to the SC&I Alumni Association to Marie Radford, SC&I, Rutgers University, 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901

About Norma

During her tenure as State Librarian, Blake initiated many new statewide projects that helped deliver information while also leading the New Jersey Knowledge Initiative to the Innovation award from the National Council of State Governments. In her nearly 37-year career she received numerous accolades including, Leadership NJ Class of 2000, New Jersey Library Association’s Distinguished Service Award (2005) and Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year (2008).

Under Blake’s leadership New Jersey embarked on its first statewide marketing campaign for libraries; implementing a highly successful interlibrary loan system; developing a Web portal and virtual reference services, providing access to statewide resources; providing statewide Internet access for libraries through JerseyConnect; and expanding popular statewide programs such as the Statewide Summer Reading Program for children and teens, and trustee and new director training programs. In addition, she lead the implementation of innovative programs and services for the blind, deaf, and hard of hearing at the New Jersey State Library’s Talking Book and Braille Center.

Norma served on the New Jersey Network’s Citizens Advisory Board; the Board of the Southern New Jersey Development Council; SCALES, the State Council of Adult Literacy Education Services and the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. Her Professional organizations/affiliations included the New Jersey Library Association, the American Library Association, liaison to the Urban Libraries Council for COSLA, the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, secretary of Chief Officers of State Library Agencies in the Northeast, and President-elect of ASCLA/ALA, the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies.