Leon Carnovsky (November 28, 1903 – December 6, 1975)[1] was an American librarian and educator who focused much of his career surveying libraries in the United States and around the globe.
After her death in January 1965, Leon was remarried in 1967 to Ruth French Strout, dean of students and associate professor in the University of Chicago Graduate Library School.
[8] During his tenure in the Graduate Library School, he was convinced to continue his studies past the attainment of a master's degree and instead completed his Ph.D., titling his dissertation “The Reading Needs of Typical Students, with Special Attention to Factors Contributing to the Satisfactions of Reading Interests.” [7][9] After graduating from the University of Chicago, Carnovsky joined the faculty of the university in 1932 as an instructor, a position that he kept until his retirement in 1971.
During his early career at the university, he, along with many other faculty, began to write to further the academic purpose of the Graduate Library School.
After the completion of his work in Israel, UNESCO asked him to conduct a similar study in Greece; however, his recommendations were not followed in this case.
His extensive bibliography includes journal articles, reports, addresses, books, letters, biographies, and even a poem or two.
According to a 1968 bibliography, some of his many works include: Undated: After the end of his career at the University of Chicago in 1971, Carnovsky relocated to his retirement home in Oakland, California.