On behalf of everyone at the George A. Smathers Libraries, we would like to extend our congratulations to the 2021 Recipients of the Library Employee Excellence Awards! See the Write-Ups
We also applaud Rebecca Jefferson for the successful accomplishment of the Price Library’s NEH Challenge Grant! And further congratulations to everyone nominated this year, who earned the esteem and appreciation of their library colleagues for their help to the university community, the general public, and the role of libraries in society.
Award Recipients
Behind the Scenes (Group)
Storage and High Density Facility Unit at ALF/ILF: Clinton Dailey, Dee Hawes, Cindy Mclean, Jared Nash, Coty Collins
Behind the Scenes (Individual)
Sakuna Saengow
Behind the Scenes (Individual)
Gerald Langford
Customer Service (Group)
Borland Library, Jacksonville – Cynthia Ellison and Garfield Simmons
Customer Service (Individual)
Joe Piazza
Diversity Equity & Inclusion (Group)
Health Science Center Library Language Inclusivity Sub-Group – Jane Morgan-Daniel, Matthew Daley, Mary Edwards, Lori Eubanks, Nina Stoyan-Rosenzweig, Hannah Norton
Innovation (Individual)
Cliff Richmond
Instruction and Training (Individual)
Neil Weijer
Outreach (Group)
Governor’s House Library, St. Augustine – Laura Marion and Casey Wooster
Special Recognition Award – Price Library Challenge Grant
Rebecca Jefferson
Nominees
Behind-the -Scenes (Group)
Archive Space: Matt Kruse, John Nemmers, Andy Hunn, Chris Nicolich, Cliff Richmond, and Gus Clifton
Digital Development Team: Dustin Durden, Doug Gordon, Julio Muñoz, and Cliff Richmond
Marston Safety Protocols Team: Michelle Nolan, Melody Royster, and Jean Bossart
Storage and HDF Unit at ALF/ILF: Clinton Dailey, Dee Hawes, Cindy Mclean, Jared Nash, and Coty Collins
Misty Colson and Lela Johnson
Behind-the-Scenes (Individual)
Gerald Langford
Sakuna Saengow
Jody Hewitt
Joe Piazza
Erin Gallagher
Matt Kruse
Mary Edwards
Customer Service (Individual and Group)
Special & Area Studies Collections Public Services: Michele Wilbanks and Steve Hersh
Cynthia Ellison and Garfield Simmons
Web Team: Gus Clifton, Matthew Daley, and Will Chaney
Public Services: Thiago de Andrade, Keith Manuel, Jennifer Farrington, Paul Kirk, and Meredith Kite
Todd Digby
Joe Piazza
Sakuna Saengow
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Individual and Group)
Live Captioning Work Group: Kestrel Ward and Twanna Hodge leading, Lisa Campbell, and Keith Manuel; Matthew Daley and Nancy Schaefer, contributing
DEI Finding Aid Revision Working Group: Nelissa Caraballo, Steve Hersh, and Matt Kruse
Bonnie Smith, Tina Litchfield, Joe Piazza, and Juliana Rojas
HSCL – Language Inclusivity Sub-groups: Jane Morgan-Daniel, Matthew Daley, Mary Edwards, Lori Eubanks, Nina Stoyan-Rosenzweig, and Hannah Norton
Randall Renner
Matt Kruse
Ginessa Mahar
Innovation
Cliff Richmond
Neil Weijer
Instruction and Training (Individual and Group)
Sakuna Saengow and Christy Shorey
Library Training Program Staff: Cynthia Digby and Juliana Rojas
Nancy Schaefer, Maggie Ansell, Mary Edwards, Jane Morgan-Daniel, Michele Tennant, and Hannah Norton
Christine Yip
Perry Collins
Christy Shorey
Jason Heckathorn, Angela Gaines, and Enrico Gumbayan
Neil Weijer
Outreach (Individual and Group)
Tara Cataldo, Vanessa Jewett, Sarah Prentice, Melody Royster, Suzanne Stapleton, and Barrett Uhler
Governor’s House Library – Laura Marion and Casey Wooster
Chloe Hough & Nina Stoyan-Rosenzweig
Katiana Bague
Chelsea Johnston
Also Join Us In Recognizing All Nominees and Recipients of Previous Years
CHARGE for the COMMITTEE
Establish an ongoing and responsive staff recognition program that is effective and meaningful to Smathers employees and creates direct correlation between the Libraries’ values and goals and what it recognizes and rewards; Collect and solicit from individuals and departments throughout the Libraries individual and departmental achievements and milestones; Coordinate the staff recognition opportunities available through the work of the Holidays Party Planning Committee, the Convocation Planning Committee, and the Staff Picnic Planning Committee; Encourage opportunities for staff recognition through other library programs, including Public Information and Staff Development; Build and ensure a committee membership that reflects library wide participation; Seek means of funding recognition programs and awards
OBJECTIVES of the COMMITTEE
To promote good will and improve morale among staff; to develop appropriate, timely and satisfying ways to recognize individual and departmental achievement; to recognize length of service, excellent performance, creativity, and strong working relationships
Current Committee Members:
- Raimonda Margjoni (June 30, 2022)
- Angelibel Soto (June 30, 2022)
- James Cusick (2020-2021 Chair) (June 30, 2023)
- Jeremiah Carlson (June 30, 2023)
- Todd Digby (June 30, 2023)
- Tabatha Pursley (June 30, 2023)
- Christine Driver Yip (June 30, 2024)
- Leonardo (Jun) Tolentino (June 30, 2024)
- John Seay (June 30, 2024)
- Carrie Adams (June 30, 2024)
- Mari Meke (June 30, 2024)
- Barbara Hood (ex officio)
TYPES OF AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Request funding to acknowledge and congratulate a team, group or individual for their accomplishment, major milestone or excellence toward organizational goals.
Library Employee Excellence Awards
Awarded annually at the Convocation – nominations open each summer for several weeks – and awards are made in a number of categories.
Retirements
Learn about hosting and funding a retirement event for a colleague