Lois Olsrud, a former library faculty member and long-time colleague, passed away June 2, 2021. 

Hired in 1966 as a Humanities Librarian, she retired June 28, 1996, after 30 years of service at the University Libraries.   

Lois worked closely with University of Arizona athletes and was known as the “football librarian.” On some occasions, she was even invited to travel with the team. A few years ago at a library event, she proudly shared with one of our employees that she had appeared on ESPN in the early 1980s for a story about the football program.   

In 2010, Lois generously established the Lois C. Olsrud Distinguished Librarian Endowment at the University of Arizona Libraries. Her gift funds the annual Lois Olsrud Library Faculty Excellence Award, as well as the annual Support for Outstanding Academic Research (SOAR) grants. The SOAR grants support research projects by our library faculty members.  

Since the Olsrud Excellence Award was established more than a decade ago, 11 librarians have been recognized with a plaque and a cash award for embodying our organizational goals and demonstrating a sustained level of excellence in service to and collaboration with our campus community. 

Lois often attended our award ceremonies, and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing and talking with her on those occasions. 
 

Donations online or by check can be made in her memory to support the Lois C. Olsrud Distinguished Librarian Endowment. Checks can be made payable to:  
University of Arizona Foundation/UA Libraries 
PO Box 210109 
Tucson, AZ 85721-0109 

Olsrud Excellence Award honorees 

2011-12 

Louise Greenfield 
Jeanne Pfander   

2012-13 

Verónica Reyes-Escudero 

2013-14

No nominations

2014-15 

Sandy Kramer 
Leslie Sult 

2015-16 

Mary Feeney 

2016-17 

Cheryl Cuillier 

2017-18 

Jim Martin 

2018-19 

Carol Howe 

2019-20 

Elizabeth Kline 

2020-21 

Niamh Wallace