Outstanding Department Head Nominees

Please describe what makes this person an outstanding department head (e.g., managerial skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership, etc.).

In my opinion Ruta has very strong interpersonal skills. She is also a good leader with an excellent attitude toward her job and life in general. I was already working in media when Ruta came on board and I have witnessed her graceful ascent to Media Department Head. Ruta seems to get along well with and take a genuine interest in everyone from student workers to various VIP's that come through the Media Department.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

You can tell that Ruta really cares about her job. I know she enjoys working with film and with people. Because people genuinely like her, they want to work hard for her. Ruta is definitely an outstanding department head!!!

(Excerpts from Nomination)

Please describe what makes this person an outstanding department head (e.g., managerial skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership, etc.).

Ruta's attitude excites and encourages the Media staff to give 100% of their effort time in order to aid patrons, improve collections, and help one another. Her leadership, compassion, fairness, and concern not only for Media but its staff has created a family out of full-time employees as well as students. The creation of this working family has given everyone a sense that s/he has a personal investment in the development and improvement of the department and one another-this could not have been possible if Ruta was not head of the department.

Please describe how the nominee has contributed to the individual goals of the employees in his/her department while focusing on the Libraries' mission.

Ruta understands the necessity of encouraging her employees, both staff and students, in reaching their personal goals within the department and because if this understanding individuals who work in Media look forward to coming to work each day and are excited about their contributions to Media and the Libraries. Ruta has aided each person on the staff as we have strived to attain our goals in and out of the department. Our production has soared under her guidance and the desire for each of us to do more and more for the department has become epidemic.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Ruta is compassionate and fair. She guides the Media department with a steady hand. On days when her plate overflows with meetings, phone calls, and a multitude of e-mails to respond to she still manages to give each person in the department time and energy even when it seems she has little to spare for herself to get her through her day. She has created an environment in which her staff and the students want to be every day, enjoy being every day, and would choose to be every day.

Please describe what makes this person an outstanding department head (e.g., managerial skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership, etc.).

Susan does an excellent job managing the Reference Department, which can be especially difficult because her department is divided into two separate locations on campus in the Science Library and the Main Library. (Soon, it will be divided into three locations with the opening of the Student Learning Center in the summer of 2003.) Her staff falls under the same department name on the organizational chart, but Susan is cognizant of the environmental and cultural differences in each work place. She easily comprehends comments and conceptualizes suggestions made by staff at either location because she takes the time to work the Reference Desk at each library -- even on the weekends.

I have been impressed by how Susan hears us and takes action to better the situation at hand. She has truly gone to bat for us when times at the Reference Desks have been less than pleasant due to printing problems, computer failure, copy machine glitches, poor logistics, etc.

She embraces emerging technologies (Wireless Capabilities, PDAs, Chat Reference, Remote Access, Web Page Design, etc.) and the inherent change they bring, which is a leadership characteristic required by the Reference Department. While always contemplating the needs of those that utilize the UGA Libraries, whether it is faculty, undergraduate students, or graduate students, she grasps the opportunities new technologies bring and confidently maintains the present relevance of the library in augmenting academic work, as well as paving a path for the future integration of the aforementioned technologies.

With seventeen librarians and six staff members in the department, Susan gives members of the Reference Department complete autonomy with projects, ideas, instruction, etc. Susan empowers her staff in each stage of the process, trusting them to envision, create, conceptualize, and successfully execute what is best for the UGA Libraries.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your department through a difficult change while maintaining a focus on the Libraries' mission?

Some people are resistant to change. Susan serves as a change agent within the UGA Libraries and the Reference Department. Working within the continually evolving environment of the library, Susan seizes opportunities initiated by technological advances, as well as the evolving use of the libraries by both students and faculty. The upcoming opening of the Student Learning Center has been in the forefront of Susan's thoughts for over five years. She has been preparing, researching, and modifying ideas of how the Reference Department can fully serve those that will utilize the Student Learning Center. She enthusiastically took on the challenge of shaping ideas for services, technology, and resources to ensure the success of the Student Learning Center for both staff and patrons.

The opening of the Student Learning Center has and will continue to put strain on the human resources in the department. Six librarians, who are currently part of Main Library Reference team, will be moving over to the new facility this summer. Susan has constantly reviewed staffing ideas with everyone within the department to come up with the most effective and efficient staffing plan that our department can feasibly employ given that the department is already short-staffed.

Please describe how the nominee has contributed to the individual goals of the employees in his/her department while focusing on the Libraries' mission.

One of Susan’s wonderful attributes is her awareness of each of her Reference Department member's workload. For example, this past spring I taught a semester course on information literacy (for which I received no pay) in addition to my normal, departmental responsibilities. Throughout the semester Susan kept in contact with me to gauge my workload and sanity level. She was fabulously supportive and constantly relayed feedback to me that she heard regarding the course. Additionally, she was genuinely interested in the progress of the students.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Not only does Susan contribute to the individual goals of her Reference staff, she also believes in carrying out the mission libraries-wide, as is evidenced by her personal attention to this endeavor. Recently, Access Services at the Main Library was in a time of need. Addressing the problem in an email to the Reference Department, Susan writes, "I believe that being able to find the materials that the catalog says we own is fundamental to the Libraries' mission. We can do all the assessment surveys we want about the look and feel of the catalog or the web page, but if users consistently cannot find the material they need they are going to judge the library harshly." Susan asked each of us in the Main Library to assist the Shelving Unit by shelving books three hours a week through the month of May.

She drew from our on-the-desk experiences in order to motivate each of us to take the three hours from our regular tasks during the week to work toward the greater mission of the UGA Libraries -- access to information.

Please describe what makes this person an outstanding department head (e.g., managerial skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership, etc.).

Mrs. Howard has done an outstanding job as the department head for Collection Development for the last 3 years. She combined the Humanities and Social Sciences departments along with other part time individuals from other departments to form the new Collection Development Department. Mrs. Howard leadership skills, managerial skills and interpersonal skills aided her and the department into being the harmonious department that they are today.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your department through a difficult change while maintaining a focus on the Libraries' mission?

Mrs. Howard has arranged training sessions and reviews with step-by-step handouts for the searchers and bibliographers in the department and placed forms and handouts on the g drive for consulting. She has formed a Bibliographers' listserv for discussions pertaining to collection management issues. She has also formed a bibliographers group. The group meets quarterly to share information and concerns that they might have in their day-to-day work. She always places the needs of the UGA students first and how changes could impact them, when making decisions or considering changes.

Please describe how the nominee has contributed to the individual goals of the employees in his/her department while focusing on the Libraries' mission.

Mrs. Howard has a vast knowledge of Collection Development and Management and doesn't mind sharing her knowledge with her peers. She has an open door policy and is always willing to help with problems. She cares very much for the collection, the library, and the people who work for her. She is never too busy to be interrupted to answer a question or discuss an issue with someone. She is supportive of individual goals of people in her department and is a mentor to anyone seeking her assistance and/or advice.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

I don't think that the libraries could find a better employee than Molly Howard. She is an asset to the libraries and cares very much for the library and the students who attend the University of Georgia.

Please describe what makes this person an outstanding department head (e.g., managerial skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership, etc.).

The Russell Library is an enjoyable place to work and that is in no small part due to the tone set by director Sheryl Vogt. An advocate of the “whistle while you work” philosophy Sheryl values and recognizes the importance of laughter and camaraderie as an essential complement to hard work in our department. Sheryl encourages and values creativity, innovation, and cooperation in our department. She welcomes ideas and suggestions from all her staff and balances her wisdom bourne of experience with an interest in trying new approaches. She has a strong and clear vision for what the Russell Library may become in the future and has communicated this vision and her enthusiasm for achieving it to her staff.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your department through a difficult change while maintaining a focus on the Libraries' mission?

When the Russell began a period of restructuring and refining its organizational structure by hiring additional staff, reorganizing space, and establishing two distinct units in the department Sheryl wisely introduced regular gatherings for tea. These informal meetings were an ideal setting for ad hoc discussions of issues, ideas, and interests both large and small, mundane and important. They also boosted morale in the department and provided an ideal setting in which to get to know colleagues. Sheryl trusts her staff members and values their ability to take initiative and work independently. This is well-illustrated by her willingness to allow Russell staff to manage the department while she was away on vacation even with an important donor event scheduled. Sheryl laid the groundwork for this time away by training her staff well, inculcating it with the values and standards followed by the Russell Library over the years. She also demonstrated confidence and trust in her staff’s ability to comport themselves as she herself would have done. Russell staff members appreciate and value this confidence, trust, and preparation provided by their fearless leader.

Please describe how the nominee has contributed to the individual goals of the employees in his/her department while focusing on the Libraries' mission.

Sheryl is exceptionally encouraging of professional development – something that is particularly important to junior faculty as well as to classified staff interested in pursuing archives or library science as a profession or simply growing in their current position. In addition to supporting staff requests to attend workshops and conferences, Sheryl regularly alerts her staff of opportunities relevant to their interests and responsibilities and supports her staff should they decide to take advantage. In recognition of her commitment to professional development of her staff, Sheryl asks her staff to integrate a professional development activity—writing an article, making a presentation, serving on professional committees—as yearly performance goal. She also supports her staff’s use of the 5 hours of professional development time available to all Libraries’ faculty. Understanding that in order to grow personally, and professionally, a variety of experiences are necessary. She is generous in allowing her staff to serve on committees and participate in on-campus activities, such as lectures and readings.

A sensitive leader, Sheryl has been consistently understanding and respectful when her colleagues are experiencing turmoil outside library life. Conversely she is happy to celebrate and congratulate successes and accomplishments within the department – often times with food and/or flowers. Sheryl also possesses an easy disposition and a wicked sense of humor that together make the work culture in the Russell Library convivial and pleasant.