Beta Phi Mu (alsoΒΦΜ orβφμ) is an Americanhonor society forlibrary & information science andinformation technology. Founded by a group of librarians and library educators, the society's express purpose is to recognize and encourage "superior academic achievement" among library and information studies students. Beta Phi Mu now has 31 active chapters in the U.S. and abroad, continues to sponsor various publications, and funds several scholarships.[1]
Beta Phi Mu was founded in August 1948 at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign[2][3][4] Its founders were library educators and leading librarians.[5] Beta Phi Mu was created as an honor society for information sciences to recognize the notable achievements within the profession.[5] Rolland Stevens was its first president and Harold Lancour was its first executive secretary.[5]
Beta Phi Mu held its first initiation in Illinois in the spring of 1949 at the University of Illinois.[5] In 1954, it presented its first Distinguished Service to Library Education Award; the award became an official award of theAmerican Library Association in 1956.[6][7]
The oldest library honor society in the United States, localPi Lambda Sigma founded in 1903 atSyracuse University, became a chapter of Beta Phi Mu in 1959.[8][9]
The society's name comes from the initials in the Greek phraseBibliothekarios philax mathesis, meaning "the librarian is the guardian of knowledge".[11] Its motto is "Aliis inserviendo consumor" or "consumed in the service of others".[5] Adolphin andanchor, themark of Venetian printerAldus Manutius, serves as the society'sinsignia.[5] The society's colors, as signified onhonor cords, are purple and white. Its publication isThe Pipeline.[4]
The society presents theBeta Phi Mu Award to a library school faculty member or an individual for distinguished service to education for librarianship. The first award was made in 1954 toRudolph Hjalmar Gjelsness, dean of the University of Michigan's Library Science Department from 1940 to 1964.
Beta Phi Mu has a scholarship program for beginning students, members seeking continuing education and foreign study, and doctoral students.[4] One of its main activities is the publication of itsMonograph Series.[4]
Eligibility for membership in Beta Phi Mu is by invitation of the faculty from anALA-accredited professional degree program. Invitations are extended only to individuals who complete the requirements for a master's degree and achieve at least a 3.75 (out of 4.0)GPA; invitations are further limited to a maximum of 25% of any given graduating class. Each eligible candidate must also be recommended for election by the faculty of the candidate’s school.[4]
^"History of Beta Phi Mu". Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. July 2000. Archived fromthe original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved7 October 2013.
^"BPM Chapters".Beta Phi Mu International Honor Society. Retrieved2024-05-20.
^"Beta Phi Mu Chapters".Association of College Honor Societies. Archived fromthe original on October 11, 2004. RetrievedMay 20, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
