Library Journal Movers & Shakers: A 25-Year Historical Record (Prototype) aims to be an open, recoverable dataset of the library and information science profession's own self-recognition, 2002–2026. It is one of three projects in the LIS Historical Commons, currently underway as adaptive infophilia work. Please note this is a working prototype, data verification and feature development is still under planning and design.
Now in their 25th year, the LJ Movers & Shakers awards are one of the profession's most sustained acts of self-recognition in the 21st century. Taken together across 25 cohorts, they constitute a historical record: of who the field honored, what kinds of work it called exemplary, how its categories of recognition shifted — from Freedom Fighters and Crusaders to Ban Battlers and Team Players — and where, geographically, that work was happening.
While previous efforts have documented or visualized portions of the record, no single open, searchable, and mappable resource appears to have brought the full history together in one place. Compiled by Anita Sundaram Coleman. The data is incomplete and improvable. Contributions and corrections are welcome. Contribute a Career Update →
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States shaded by number of honorees. Click a state to see names. Note: geographic data is estimated from institution affiliations publicly available for recent years; full geocoding across all 25 years is approximate.
Geographic data based on institution affiliations from publicly available LJ profiles. Not all honorees have verifiable state data.
LJ has evolved its category names over 25 years, reflecting how the field's priorities have shifted. Freedom Fighters was active 2007–2009, rolled into the broader "Activists" umbrella.