Seymour Lubetzky

Seymour Lubetzky (April 28, 1898-April 5, 2003) A cataloging theorist and a prominent librarian, Seymour Lubetzky was 104 years of age when he died on April 5, 2003. Born in Belarus as Shmaryahu Lubetzky, he worked for years at the Library of Congress. Lubetzky also taught at the School of Library Sevice.

Lubetzky's theory of cataloging went far beyond the Dewey Decimal System. He divised a colorful yet tactful way of identifying but ordering books where even the most simple person could find it.

Lubetzky was fluent in six languages, and was also immortalized in two books himself, entitled "Seymour Lubetzky: Writings on the Classical Art of Cataloging" and "Future of Cataloging: The Lubetzky Symposium".

Just before his 104th birthday, the American Library Association awarded Lubetzky its highest honor, an honorary lifetime membership.

Lubetzky will be sorely missed by thousand of librarians and teachers alike. In many ways, he was the modern day Melvil Dewey.