[5] Ford served as an elected member of the Governing Board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions from 2005 to 2009.

Ford's ALA Presidential theme was "Libraries: Global Reach – Local Touch" during 1997–1998.

[6] She edited a volume, Libraries: Global Reach Local Touch, that included her inaugural speech.

[4] The American Librarian Association recognized Barbara Ford's many contributions to the library community by including her in its ALA Legacy Society Honor Roll.

[9] She received the John Ames Humphry/OCLC/Forest Press Award for significant contribution to international librarianship.