Charles E. Beard

Family-Placed Death Notice

Charles E. Beard, 63, of Carrollton, Georgia, died June 2, 2004. "Charlie Ed," as he was known to his family, was a beloved librarian, bridge teacher, and community servant to professional and personal friends and family all over the country. A graduate of the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Charles obtained a Masters of Library Science from Florida State University. Early in his career Charles served in the United States Army, was assigned to the U.S. Army Command Library at Leavenworth, Kansas, obtained the rank of First Lieutenant and was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal. Following stints at the libraries of the University of Alabama, Judson College (Marion, Ala.), and Georgia College (Milledgeville), Charles served as a Professor and Director of the Libraries at the State University of West Georgia for twenty-six (26) years. During that time he oversaw the University's transition to on-line cataloguing and services. As the electronic information age came to the fore, Charlie Ed worked tirelessly and motivated others to support access to information. As a result West Georgia's Ingram Library served as a beta site for THOMAS, the first government-sponsored electronic service, which made the Library of Congress and Congressional Record available to the public. In combination with other university librarians throughout Georgia, he actively supported GALILEO (Georgia Library Learning On-line), which coordinated access and exchange of information and materials across all university libraries. Charles is credited with being instrumental in extending access to GALILEO to all universities, public and private schools and educational institutions in the State. Charles was an active leader in professional associations and inspired and motivated librarians of his generation and those that followed. At his retirement party on May 28, an audience of more than 100 was regaled with tales of his exploits to support funding for libraries and encourage professionals through state, regional and national library associations. Among his tireless service on professional boards and committees too numerous to list, Charles has served for more than twenty years on the White House Conference on Libraries, and Information Services Task Force, more than thirty years on the Regents Academic Committee on Libraries (Chair from 1977-79), and was serving as the Chair of the Georgia State Board for certification of librarians, the Advisory Board of the Georgia Center for the Book, and the Statue University of West Georgia's Five-Year Master Facility Planning Committee at the time of his death. The Georgia Library Association, American Library Association, Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, and Southeastern Library Association have issued numerous awards and distinguished service citations recognizing Charles' contributions and professionalism. Because of his effective advocacy for funding and support of libraries, the Georgia Library Association has created the Georgia Library Association's Charles Beard Library Advocacy Award. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Beard of Scottsboro, Ala.; aunt, Louisa Messolonghittes of Bethesda, Md.; first cousins, Ann Brabham of Union Springs, Ala., Bruce and Brent Harden of Northport, Ala., Joe Harden of Baton Rouge, La., Richard Harden of Mechanicsville, Va., Andy Peacock of Columbia, S.C., Ed Peacock of Auburn, Ala., and Bill Dannelly of Raleigh, N.C., and an extended community of other family and friends who loved and were loved by Charlie Ed. Gone before him were father, Julius Beard, first mother, Lucie Glenn Dannelly Beard, aunt, Eleanor Dannelly Cook, grandfather, the Rev. E.A. Dannelly, and many other family and friends who gave Charles the foundation of vitality and love that sustained him through his life. The family will greet visitors at the Scottsboro (Ala.) Funeral Home, 1502 County Park Road, on Friday, June 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Scottsboro, 205 Andrews Street, on Saturday, June 5 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests that gifts be directed to the Charles E. Beard Ingram Library Endowment Fund, West Georgia Foundation, Inc., State University of Georgia, 1903 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30117-9988 or the library of your choice.