Andrew “Drew” Smith, Associate Librarian Emeritus, USF Libraries, named winner of the 2025 HS Genealogy/History Achievement Award
Drew Smith has made a career involving information/computing resources and services at large research-oriented universities since 1978. His current interests and specializations include:
- genealogical research, especially as it applies to academic research, instruction by public librarians, and service to the community
Publications
Publications, Articles, and Conference Proceedings (Peer-Reviewed)
Smith, D., Cook, M., and Torrence, M. (2019). Making disciplinary research audible: The academic library as podcaster. [Expected publication late 2020]
Piazza, L. M., Smith, D., & Pollenz, R. S. (2016). Librarians partner across campus to support undergraduate research. Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 36(4).
Smith, D. (2015). Finding parents for orphan works: Using genealogical methods to locate heirs for obtaining copyright permissions. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 41(3).
Lewis, B., & Smith, D. (2014). Tablet technology in support of professional productivity. In R.K. Miller, H. Moorefield-Lang, & C. Meier (Eds.), Tablet computers in the academic library. Chicago: American Library Association.
Publications, Other
Smith, D. (2023). Generation by generation: A modern approach to the basics of genealogy. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company.
Smith, D. (2016). Organize your genealogy. Cincinnati: Family Tree Books.
Morgan, G. G., & Smith, D. (2014). Advanced genealogy research techniques. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
Smith, D. (2009). Social networking for genealogists. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company.
Lewis, B., & Smith, D (2008). Researching the world’s information, in USF University Experience textbook.
Frederick, J., & Smith, D. (2000). Library and Internet research skills: a guide for college students. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.
Smith, D. (1997). The Internet and library and information services [Review of the book The Internet and library and information services, by L. G. Liu]. Collection Building, 16(2), 90-91.
Presentations
Presentations, International
Smith, D. (2010). Using social networking tools to promote genealogy and local history collections and to instruct researchers in their use. Presentation at the World Library and Information Congress: 76th IFLA General Conference and Assembly. Available at http://conference.ifla.org/past-wlic/2010/73-smith-en.pdf [Refereed]
Presentations, National
Smith, D. (2019). The future of genealogy librarianship. Presented as part of a panel at the ALA RUSA Genealogy Pre-conference, 2019 ALA Annual Meeting.
Smith, D. (2019). What librarians need to know about DNA. Presented at the ALA RUSA Genealogy Institute, 2019 ALA Midwinter Meeting.
Smith, D. (2018). Preparing your patrons for DNA testing. Presented at the ALA RUSA Genealogy Pre-conference, 2018 ALA Annual Conference.
Smith, D. (2017). What librarians need to know about DNA. Presented at the ALA RUSA Genealogy Institute, 2017 ALA Midwinter Meeting.
Smith, D. (2016). Partnering for the common good: Libraries and genealogical societies [academic libraries perspective]. Presented as part of an ALA RUSA History Section panel discussion at the 2016 ALA Annual Conference.
Smith, D. (2015). Genealogy programming at your library. Presented at the ALA RUSA Genealogy Pre-conference, 2015 ALA Annual Conference.
Smith, D. (2010). Using Web 2.0 tools with a 101 knowledge base. Presented at the 2010 ALA RUSA Midwinter Institute “The genealogy reference desk: Where everyone knows your name.”
Presentations, State
Smith, D. (2016). Good cop, better cop: Politely interrogate your genealogical researcher. Presented at the 2016 Annual Conference of the Texas Library Association.
Smith, D. (2016). An evening at the Clayton Library with Drew Smith [ticketed event]. Presented at the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research of the Houston Public Library.
Smith, D. (2012). A USF partnership: The Tampa Library and the Office for Undergraduate Research. Presented at the Fall 2012 program of the Florida Association of College & Research Libraries.
Smith, D. (2010). Online tools for archivists. Member of a panel discussion at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Society of Florida Archivists.
Smith, D. (2007). Library as the new extension service: Going where the user is. Keynote address presented at the Fall 2007 program of the Florida Association of College & Research Libraries.
Presentations, Other
Smith, D. (2014). Efforts in human identification at FIS. Panel discussion at the USF Symposium Research & remembrance: 100 years after the fatal fire at Dozier.
Ariew, S. A., & Smith, D. (2009). If it’s worth teaching, it’s worth finding out whether they learned it! Northeast Florida Library Information Network (NEFLIN).
We inspire people everywhere to connect with their family—across generations.
FamilySearch is dedicated to preserving important family records and making them freely accessible online, subject to local laws. Our work is worldwide and has involved collaborations with more than 10,000 organizations in over 100 countries. FamilySearch seeks to comply with local laws at all times.
Established in 1992, the HS Genealogy / History Achievement Award, sponsored by FamilySearch, presents a citation and $1,500 to a librarian, library or publisher, in recognition of professional achievement in historical or genealogical reference, service, or research librarianship. The recipient shall be selected for exceptional accomplishment in one or more of the following areas: leadership; service; training; reference; or publication of recent, significant print or digital reference works/projects that offer access to genealogical or historical sources. Preference shall be given to members of RUSA.
The selection committee was Chaired by Tina Beaird.