Schuman worked at the Brooklyn Public Library, Brandeis High School and New York Technical College and served as senior acquisitions editor for the Book Division and editor of the Library/Education Book Program at R.R. Bowker Company and associate editor at School Library Journal. '[3]
In 1976, Schuman founded Neal-Schuman Publishers with John Vincent Neal. The company specialized in education resources for librarians, educators and information professionals. The company became part of ALA Publishing in 2011.[4]
As President of the American Library Association, Schuman launched a nationwide campaign to focus attention on the public's right to know including censorship and access to government information. [5] She implemented media training for association leaders, established a speaker’s network, and founded the Library Advocacy Now! effort. She also served the association as its first woman treasurer (1984-1988) and led efforts to endow a scholarship fund. Schuman was a founding member of the ALA’s Social Responsibilities Roundtable and the Feminist Task Force.
In a 2024 interview published in the journal, Florida Libraries, Schuman reflected on the importance of advocacy to maintain support for libraries. [6]
^Maminski, Dolores. 1993. “Your Right to Know: The Call to Action.” Library Journal 118 (17): 202.
^Daniels, Mary. 2024. “‘LIBRARIES ARE A VERY RADICAL IDEA, YOU KNOW:’ Observations from ALA Past President, Patricia Glass Schuman.” Florida Libraries 66 (1): 26–27.
^Patricia Glass Schuman named Equality Award recipient. American Library Association, (May 1993).
^Berry, John N, III. “My First Feminist. Library Journal V 126, 11, (June 15, 2001): 6.
