(L-R) Dr. Virginia Bowden, second director of the Briscoe Library, director emeritus; Dr. Francisco G. Cigarroa, president of the Health Science Center; Dolph Briscoe Jr., former governor of Texas; Dr. Mary Moore, director of libraries; and Dr. David Kronick, founding director of the Briscoe Library
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The Health Science Center’s four decades of excellence in library outreach services was celebrated at a ceremony May 14, honoring individuals who have contributed to the libraries’ success.

Dolph Briscoe Jr., former governor of Texas, and Kenneth Shine, M.D., executive vice chancellor for health affairs of The University of Texas System, were among a crowd of distinguished guests that included library professionals from around the country.

Mary Moore, Ph.D., director of libraries at the Health Science Center, introduced honored guests, including Betsy Humphreys, deputy director of the National Library of Medicine; Carla Funk, executive director of the Medical Library Association (MLA); and M. J. Tooey, president-elect of MLA. Dr. Moore expressed gratitude for the help and support they have provided the Health Science Center’s outreach services.

“I am very proud of our library’s strong track record with outreach,” Dr. Moore said. “I am especially proud to have the privilege of leading the library system from its successful past into the future.”

The Health Science Center recently received the 2004 National Award for Museum and Library Services, often described as the ‘Academy Award’ for Libraries.

“One of my proudest moments was having our own Greysi Reyna from the RAHC Medical Library receive the nation’s highest library award and shaking hands with First Lady Laura Bush,” said President of the Health Science Center, Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D. “We are certainly fortunate to have someone as enthusiastic and energetic as Dr. Moore to lead our library system into the future.”

Dr. Shine spoke of the more than 1.3 billion dollars in uncompensated care that the UT System provided last year, made possible in part by the Health Science Center at San Antonio.

“These outcomes could not be accomplished without the crucial resources and support of a great library such as the Briscoe Library,” Dr. Shine said. “Congratulations to the libraries of the Health Science Center. We hope to hear its voices in future decades and centuries to come.”

An awards ceremony recognized the “dedicated individuals who laid the foundation for this success,” Dr. Moore said.

David Kronick, Ph.D., founding director of the Briscoe Library, director emeritus; Virginia Bowden, Ph.D., second director of the Briscoe Library, director emeritus; and Mary Jo Dwyer, South Texas librarian of 15 years; were honored by Dr. Moore and Gov. Briscoe for their contributions.