Michael Noga, collections strategist and earth and planetary sciences and mathematics librarian, was honored as the 2015 recipient of the Geoscience Information Society’s Mary B. Ansari Distinguished Service Award. The award, recognizing significant contributions to the field of geoscience information, was presented at the Society’s annual meeting on November 2.

“We are thrilled to see Michael’s considerable accomplishments recognized with this award,” said Chris Bourg, director of the MIT Libraries. “The expertise, leadership, and partnership he brings to his work are valued not only by his peers but across the Libraries and the wider MIT community.”

A geoscience information professional for more than three decades, Noga has focused his research on the serial literature of the geosciences, in particular journal cost, retention, and preservation issues. He has served on the Publications Committee of both the Geological Society of America and the American Geophysical Union and currently serves as vice-chair of the GeoScienceWorld Board of Directors.

“Michael has a sophisticated understanding of collection development issues that is both admired and appreciated by his colleagues,” said Jody Bales Foote, chair of the selection committee, in a press release. “He is highly regarded for the effort he makes to get to know the faculty members and students he works with in order to understand how they seek, use, and share information.”

The Geoscience Information Society (GSIS) is an international professional organization devoted to improving the exchange of information in the earth sciences. Its membership consists of librarians, editors, cartographers, educators, and information professionals. Noga received the Best Paper Award from GSIS in 1993 for his analysis of usage patterns of geoscience journals, and in 2005 for his study on conference papers in geoscience proceedings. He served as president of GSIS in 2002.