Xi Chapter of Beta Phi Mu

University of Hawai'i at Manoa

History and Background Information

The Xi Chapter of Beta Phi Mu, the international honor society in library and information science, was founded at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in 1968. On Sunday, May 25, 2008, a group of new initiates were inducted into the chapter. The keynote speaker at the initiation ceremony was State Librarian Richard Burns. He spoke about the importance of all librarians to impress upon legislators at all levels of government, local, state, and federal, to support the work of libraries and librarians with adequate funding. Refreshments were served following the program and jazz guitarist Shoji Ledward provided the entertainment.

BPM membership is by invitation only. The UH LIS faculty select graduates from among the top 25 percent of each graduating class. They look for candidates who have demonstrated excellence in academics, as well as dedicated service to the profession, the LIS Program, and to fellow students. You may join anytime after you have been nominated; however, our initiation ceremony is only held once each year, usually a week after the May Commencement. There is a one-time $100 initiation fee, which goes to BPM national HQ. Members should renew their BPM memberships by joining a chapter. Xi Chapter charges $10 annual dues, which finances our initiation ceremony, scholarship and other activities.

Beta Phi Mu Members to Volunteer at FOLH Booksale

Members of the Xi Chapter of Beta Phi Mu will be volunteering at the 61st Annual Friends of the Library of Hawai'i Booksale at McKinley High School on Sunday, June 29, 2008, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Beta Phi Mu Scholarship

All students enrolled in the Library and Information Science Graduate Program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa are encouraged to apply for the Beta Phi Mu Scholarship. Deadline for submission of applications is April 1, 2009. The scholarship will be presented at the May 2009 initiation ceremony of new Beta Phi Mu members. For information on how to apply for the Beta Phi Mu Scholarship and the criteria for selection, link to the scholarship page.

Renewing Members

Xi Chapter invites you to renew your membership if you were already enrolled in BPM at the University of Hawai'i or if you are a BPM member who would like to transfer your membership to the Xi Chapter. Please download the renewal form as a Word document or as a PDF file and send it with your $10 check (payable to "Xi Chapter, Beta Phi Mu") to Ralph Toyama, Leeward Community College Library, 96-045 Ala Ike, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782.

New Members

Candidates for membership in Xi Chapter are nominated by the LIS Faculty on the basis of:

1. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher (out of a 4.0 scale) the semester before graduation.
2. Be in the top 25% of the graduating class.
3. Demonstrated service to the profession, LIS Program, and fellow students.
4. Professionalism and leadership potential in the profession.
5. In your final semester (after submitting the form) you must also pass the oral exam, and maintain at least a cumulative GPA of 3.75.
6. Have no LIS grade below a "B-".

If selected, you will receive an invitation with a membership application. To join, you will have to send two checks (a) $100 one-time initiation fee, which goes to national headquarters, and (b) $10 annual dues, which is kept by Xi Chapter.

Graduates from UHM Alumni who graduated during the years when Xi Chapter was inactive (1999-2005), may apply if they meet the following criteria:

1. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher (out of a 4.0 scale)
2. Be in the top 25% of the graduating class
3. Have a faculty recommendation
4. Demonstrated service to the profession, LIS Program, and fellow students.

Unfortunately many of our lists of students who had sufficient GPA were lost in the October 2004 flood of Hamilton Library. If you graduated prior to December 1, 2005, you need only meet the first and third requirements. If you are interested, please send a photocopy of your UH transcript, two checks (one for $100 made to "Beta Phi Mu" and one for $10 payable to "Xi Chapter, Beta Phi Mu"), and the membership form (downloadable as a Word document or as a PDF file) to Dr. Andrew Wertheimer, Library & Information Science Program, 305 F POST Building, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. Please see the Beta Phi Mu Q&A page for answers to frequently asked questions about membership requirements and the initiation ceremony.

2007 - 2008 Xi Chapter of Beta Phi Mu Executive Board

Contact Information

If you would like more information about the Xi Chapter of Beta Phi Mu, our upcoming events, or would like to volunteer to be on the executive board, please contact any one of the following people:

Suzanne Uratani at uratani@gmail.com
Carole Suzui at csuzui@gmail.com
Dr. Andrew Wertheimer at wertheim@hawaii.edu