OLA News

Bob Swisher accepts the Oklahoma Library Legend Award from OLA President Pat Weaver-Meyers, April 2, 2007

August 19, 1943 - March 30, 2024 (age 80)

Robert Dean Swisher, PhD, passed away in the early morning hours of March 30th, 2024, after a short battle with cancer. He was at home and surrounded by family who shared favorite stories and told him how much he meant to us.

Bob was born in Lafayette, IN, to Esther Hershman Swisher and Robert Swisher of Medaryville, Indiana on August 19th, 1943 and grew up in Medaryville, and Valparaiso, Indiana. After graduating from Valparaiso High School, he attended Ball State and Indiana University Northwest campus where he met Claudia Lisman. They both transferred to Indiana University - Bloomington to continue their studies. He and Claudia were married in December, 1965. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in History, Master and PhD in Library Science at Indiana University, all before the age of 34. While a student, he served as a reference librarian at the IU Library, and often shared that the most common question he fielded was, “Where’s the restroom?”

In 1974, Bob began his university teaching career as an Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa in the School of Library and Information Science, then became a full-tenured faculty member at the University of Oklahoma, later serving as Director of the School of Library and Information Science and as Assistant Provost. He also taught courses through OU’s Advanced Programs contracts with military bases around the world and contributed to the education of cadres of students in Europe and Asia.

He also served as president of Oklahoma Library Association in 1994 and 1995. As president, he concentrated on networking and connections, encouraging web-based services for Oklahomans. Along with supporting the development of state standards for libraries, his OLA leadership included bringing the office online. Bob received OLA’s Meritorious Service Award and its Distinguished Service Award. In 2007 the Oklahoma Library Association honored him as one of the Oklahoma Library Legends 1907-2007, during OLA’s centennial year.

Even after retirement, he was a vocal advocate for public and school libraries and was particularly concerned about the recent attacks on libraries and free speech. He worked closely with National Issues Forum, a community program to foster deliberative, problem-solving conversations, and led conversations that modeled respectful conversations around controversial topics, leading participants to find common values.

Both former colleagues and students have spoken with gratitude of his generous mentoring of their careers. Those relationships were deeply meaningful to Bob, and he was proud of the professionals whose early careers he helped nurture.

His professional work allowed him to explore two of his passions: learning and teaching. He wanted to know everything and wanted others to know what he knew. This led him to read and research voraciously. The topics ranged widely - from native wildflowers to best educational practices to trends in technology. ... Read the full obituary

In order to honor his legacy, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers. donations be given to the Oklahoma Library Association Endowment, “Help Us Tell Our Story,”