By Charlotte Hsu
DAILY BRUIN REPORTER
chsu@media.ucla.edu
Remembered for his contributions to the field of cataloging,
UCLA Professor Emeritus Seymour Lubetzky died April 5 from heart
failure. He was 104.
Lubetzky is renowned for his work in the development of the
“Paris Principles” and the theory on code design he
developed while working at the Library of Congress.
In 1961 Lubetzky held a leadership role at the International
Conference on Cataloging Principles in Paris, which was
instrumental in simplifying global information exchange by
establishing a system of cataloging that was compatible
worldwide.
Lubetzky came to UCLA in 1960 as a professor at the School of
Library Service. He published three works related to cataloging
that are used in library schools worldwide ““ Cataloging Rules
and Principles, Code of Cataloging Rules and Principles of
Cataloging.
The UCLA School of Library Service later merged with the
Graduate School of Education to form the Graduate School of
Education and Information Studies. In 1998, UCLA GSE&IS
sponsored a symposium to honor Lubetzky’s one-hundredth
birthday.
Among the honors Lubetzky received during his lifetime were the
Margaret Mann Citation in 1955 and the Melvil Dewey Award in 1977.
He received Honorary Membership ““ the American Library
Association’s most prestigious award ““ in 2002.
Also a recipient of the Beta Phi Mu Award for good teaching,
Lubetzky taught a course on descriptive cataloging that became a
centerpiece of the former UCLA School of Library Service’s
master’s program. Lubetzky retired in 1967 but continued to
promote and contribute to the field of cataloging and library
studies.
Born in 1898 in Zelwa, Poland, Lubetzky was trained and
practiced as a teacher before emigrating to the United States in
1927.
David, Lubetzky’s son, said Lubetzky loved violin music
and brought his violin ““ his prized possession ““ to
America. On a train ride from Chicago to Los Angeles,
Lubetzky’s violin was stolen, David said.
Lubetzky never bought another violin, and when David asked his
father why he never did, Lubetzky said there was no need to play
the violin because in America, good violin music played on the
radio.
Lubetzky studied and mastered six languages and received his
B.A. in 1931 and an M.A. from UC Berkeley a year later before
becoming a cataloger at the Library of Congress in 1943.
Darren, Lubetzky’s grandson, said the grandfather he knew
was the one outside of Lubetzky’s professional academic
activities.
“He was very thoughtful … and he was always very
principled ““ a loving grandfather. He was always interested
in what I was doing,” Darren said.
Both Darren and David said Lubetzky always contributed a portion
of his salary to charities, namely ones that helped disadvantaged
children.
Lubetzky would have turned 105 today. Memorial services were
held on April 13. He is survived by sons David and Richard.
To donate to the Seymour Lubetzky Scholarship Fund No.9240,
gifts should be made payable to the UCLA Foundation. Donations can
be sent to the GSE&IS Development Office at 2043 Moore Hall,
Box 951521, 405 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095.