Hall was judged for her role within the organisations as well as for her external achievements and contributions to the information industry. She is an internationally recognised information professional, best known for her research and teaching in the area of information and knowledge management (KM).

She is also respected for active involvement with information and knowledge management practitioners through her work with professional bodies as well as time spent in the industry.

In addition to her regular duties at the university, Hall, throughout 2009 was involved in activities such as teaching modules in KM, serving on university committees, training PhD students in research methods, supporting and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students in their projects, mentoring junior academic colleagues and also conducting her own research.

Meanwhile, her most notable external achievement in 2009 was her appointment, in August, to lead the implementation of the Library and Information Science (LIS) research coalition on behalf of British Library, CILIP, JISC, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and Research Information Network. The objective of this coalition is to facilitate a coordinated and strategic approach to LIS research, by providing a formal structure to improve its access and maximising its relevance and impact in the UK. And in three months since her appointment, Hall has already made significant progress in achieving the goal.

Tessa Darley, one of Hall's students who nominated her said: "The contribution she makes to the profession every single year is immeasurable and I can't think of anyone more deserving of the title." To her studemts, Hall embodies good KM and information management. She has a long term impact not just on the students she trains but also on the health of the profession.

The nominations were judged by a panel of previous winners of the IWR Information Professional of the Year award including Roddy McLeod, Karen Blakeman, Euan Semple, Niel Infield, Brian Kelly, Tony Hirst and Natalie Ceeney.

Each year, the award is organised by IWR magazine along with Incisive Media, the organisers of the Online Information conference and was sponsored by the American Psychological Association. Peter Williams, the editor of IWR described Hall as an "energetic and enthusiastic" information professional whose work invigorates the pofessional landscape globally.

Also at the ceremony, Deb Hunt, principal of Information Edge - a specialist in enterprise search consulting, knowledge services, research and library services and automation - received a special commendation for her work as a member for the Special Libraries Association (SLA) board of directors.