Awarded to the person who continually and effectively fulfills his/her obligations to the mission of the libraries and who is commonly not recognized as doing so or has his/her recognition skipped over for colleagues in more public or glamorous positions. This person is continuously both a real benefit to his/her colleagues and a stable and dependable resource for the UGA Libraries as a whole.

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What is the nominee's position and what is the nature of his/her job?

Ever thought about getting all those call numbers on those thousands upon thousands of books we catalog each year? This is undoubtedly something Susan thinks about each day, as she is in charge of the Marking unit of the Database Maintenance Section in the Cataloging Department. They are responsible, among other things, for marking newly-cataloged materials and remarking materials as necessary (and it's necessary a lot!).

How long has the employee been employed at the UGA Libraries?

Three years.

How has the nominee's hard work affected your unit and/or department, as well as the Libraries?

Susan is all about efficiency. Soon after she began, she reorganized the shelving and set about streamlining workflow, in order to better move materials through Marking. I believe that, thanks to Susan and her efforts, materials get where they need to be faster. This is definitely a benefit to the Libraries. Her work has also had a positive effect on the Cataloging Department. She has clearly labeled the shelves where we need to put things for marking. And if that's not enough, she has created a guide to the marking shelves. If for example I can't remember where to put a newly-cataloged paperback conference publication for Coastal Plain, I only need to consult her guide.

How would the work environment at the UGA Libraries be different without nominee?

The Libraries could not survive without someone to head the Marking unit. But if it were someone other than Susan....? I think things would not be as efficient as they are now. There would probably be more materials backed up waiting to be marked. Also, when Susan is going to be gone for any reason, she makes arrangements for things to get done so they continue to flow. Finally, Susan is patient and good-natured. That would be missed if she were not here.

Despite lack of recognition, what makes the nominee an integral part of the UGA Libraries' mission?

Susan's work is definitely behind-the-scenes. It's not necessarily glamorous, and I think it's something easily taken for granted. Yet it has a direct impact on people being able to find a book or serial on the shelf. That is integral to the mission of the UGA Libraries. If the materials were not marked, mis-marked, or waiting for months and months to be marked, finding anything in a library (especially of our size) would be impossible. I'm sure that Susan's marking has helped many of her colleagues in more glamorous positions find materials for their patrons, and I would like to recognize her for this.

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

Susan's unit consists of her and one other staff person, with help from the Database Maintenance Section as well as student help. I believe the amount of work they accomplish for being so small is truly amazing. And the work keeps increasing. When Acquisitions began to catalog, there were more books to mark......for special projects there is always more marking and re-marking. I work in the same department as Susan and I suspect I am only aware of a small part of the volume they see

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What is the nominee's position and what is the nature of his/her job?

Jesse Griffin is the Main Library Stack Supervisor, though he fills in as a security assistant in emergencies. This spring the influx of returned materials was complicated by the fact that the Access Services Department was down several positions and the student assistant budget had been cut. This personnel shortage coupled with the acute shortage of space for returning materials made his task more challenging. Throughout the "crisis" weeks Jesse maintained a cheerfully confident attitude and encouraged his assistants to do what they could under the circumstances. Likewise Jesse made sure that volunteer shelvers knew that their efforts were appreciated, never complaining that their inexperience caused them to be inefficient.

How long has the employee been employed at the UGA Libraries?

Jesse joined the Libraries in March 2000.

How has the nominee's hard work affected your unit and/or department, as well as the Libraries?

When patrons cannot find the books that are listed in the catalog as available, they are frustrated. In embellishing catalogs and adding databases, librarians sometimes forget that the most fundamental thing that impacts patron satisfaction with a library is the ability to find the materials the catalog says the library owns. Failure to find materials makes users distrust the library's records. They assume that the materials are lost or misshelved. If libraries spent more time insuring that users found the materials they enter the stacks looking for, user satisfaction would be high. Jesse's diligence in keeping the shelving moving forward in an orderly way, despite the chaos of the last few weeks is a significant public service. It helps everyone who serves on a public service desk by minimizing the about of material that is unaccounted for.

How would the work environment at the UGA Libraries be different without nominee?

I can easily imagine that a less forbearing individual would have "lost it" at the end of the spring semester. Having a calming presence has maintained momentum and kept everyone optimistic that most of the material could be shelved within a month.

Despite lack of recognition, what makes the nominee an integral part of the UGA Libraries' mission?

I believe that most users rate a library on whether or not they can find the materials the library states that it owns. It does not help anyone if items are listed in the catalog, but cannot be found. If users lose faith in the ability of the catalog to reflect the libraries holdings, they will turn to other resources to fulfill their research needs. Shelving is absolutely fundamental to users' assessment of our service to them.

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

Jesse also fills in during emergencies. During the tornado warning which took place during finals, Jesse was among the staff members who cleared floors, calmed the anxious and then gave the all clear when the storm had passed. Again, his calm demeanor kept many students from becoming alarmed over missing their final or being injured.

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What is the nominee's position and what is the nature of his/her job?

LA III, Senior Bibliographic Searcher.

Provides logistical support in finding and collating information for ordering or canceling monographs, periodicals, serials, and continuations. In addition, she works on other long-term and short term projects involving collections support at Sapelo, Skidaway, Tifton Diagnostic Laboratory, the 2 Experiment Stations in Griffin and Tifton, and the College of Veterinary Medicine's Reading Room.

How long has the employee been employed at the UGA Libraries?

June 1, 1987 and in current position March 1, 1994.

How has the nominee's hard work affected your unit and/or department, as well as the Libraries?

Georgia's meticulous nature has meant that her work is always of highest quality. She interacts well with other departments, notably Cataloging, Acquisitions, and Serials, and the people who work there know that she has checked and double checked her data. This sort of expertise is not always appreciated.

How would the work environment at the UGA Libraries be different without nominee?

Georgia also volunteers to help out in other Science Library departments as needed. She likes to get into the thick of projects and see them through to the end. In addition, Georgia likes a clean work environment and has helped the Physical Plant staff voluntarily, in one case with an emergency spill. Everyone appreciates her loyalty and attitude--she's happy to come to work.

Despite lack of recognition, what makes the nominee an integral part of the UGA Libraries' mission?

Georgia does her job, but to a much higher standard than anyone else I know. She goes out of her way to help others and likes taking on new responsibilities and work on projects that are not part of her job description. She doesn't need to be trained or told how to do something--instead she uses her analytical skills to decide the best way to do something and then attends to it.

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

Georgia is a long-time employee of the Libraries. Because she doesn't go out of her way to toot her own horn, she generally flies under the radar. She is at her desk every morning, early and ready to work. She takes on new duties and challenges eagerly and without complaint. While we probably expect all of these character traits in employees, in reality expectations are generally lower. Georgia also has volunteered quietly outside of the Libraries, which makes us look good to others. She doesn't seek recognition and for that reason she is unsung. This would be an opportunity to rectify that!

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What is the nominee's position and what is the nature of his/her job?

Jermaine is an Access Services Assistant in the Office of the Access Services Department. The Access Services Assistant serves as the receptionist for the Access Services Office, providing routine information and receiving telephone calls, and handles specialized services to Library patrons. He assists patrons with specialized circulation services by issuing borrower’ cards, by clearing student flags, by receiving carrel requests, and by answering inquiries requiring interpretation of policies, rules and regulations.

How long has the employee been employed at the UGA Libraries?

Jermaine has been employed in the Access Services Department for 3 years and 5 months.

How has the nominee's hard work affected your unit and/or department, as well as the Libraries?

Jermaine is a calming influence in a very stressful unit of the Access Services Department. You can always count on Jermaine for a smile even in very stressful situations. His smile is very infectious. He has the wonderful ability to make friends with patrons as well as co-workers throughout the organization of the Libraries. He is very dependable and reliable. He is the ultimate team player in that he can establish an effective working relationship with anyone. He possess excellent public service skills. He is a great ambassador for the Libraries and the University of Georgia.

How would the work environment at the UGA Libraries be different without nominee?

It is hard to imagine not coming to work and seeing Jermaine's smiling face. He is the type of employee that you miss when he has a day off or is on vacation. You are counting the days until he returns. He really has a positive affect on the work environment that I have not seen in many employees.

Despite lack of recognition, what makes the nominee an integral part of the UGA Libraries' mission?

His public services skills are outstanding. He is committed to providing the best service possible to our patrons. He always displays a professional and positive image of the Libraries and the University of Georgia.

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

I can not think of a more popular employee in the Libraries. Jermaine seems to know everyone and more importantly is liked by everyone that knows him. I don't think Jermaine has ever met a stranger. Most importantly he does not seek recognition for himself. He is more concerned about helping others. I just hope that the Committee rewards Jermaine for all the good that he does in such a stressful position. He really is the "unsung" hero of the Access Services and the UGA Libraries. It is a recognition that is long overdue.

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What is the nominee's position and what is the nature of his/her job?

Digital Metadata Coordinator and Project Manager for the DLG.

How long has the employee been employed at the UGA Libraries?

Not sure...over 3 years I know.

How has the nominee's hard work affected your unit and/or department, as well as the Libraries?

Sheila has taken a lot of extra work since the head of the DLG left last year. She has gone above and beyond her normal duties to keep the DLG running smoothly and effectively. Her hard work has made the time the DLG is without a fulltime leader much easier on all of us who work with the their group.

How would the work environment at the UGA Libraries be different without nominee?

If Sheila had not taken on extra duties and responsibilities, the DLG would have suffered greatly, along with other departments in the library. GALILEO projects would have suffered as a result of missed deadlines, wasted time cleaning up data and lack of project management.

Despite lack of recognition, what makes the nominee an integral part of the UGA Libraries' mission?

Sheila’s goal is always to provide information to the user in a format that is easy to use while maintaining integrity towards the original piece. Her work ethic goes beyond the Libraries’ mission. She does the right thing despite not getting any recognition for her work.

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

Sheila has made my job easier since I have been at the library. She is organized, dependent and is always available for me.

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What is the nominee's position and what is the nature of his/her job?

Preservation Assistant.

The Preservation Assistant is responsible for evaluation of damaged or deteriorated library materials for collections conservation treatment decisions; for performing a wide variety of conservation treatments on general collections materials; and assisting in other preservation activities as needed.

How long has the employee been employed at the UGA Libraries?

Since 8/01 in current position; since 8/00 at the UGA Libraries.

How has the nominee's hard work affected your unit and/or department, as well as the Libraries?

Ryan is a one-man three-ring circus. With a minor amount of help from his supervisor and student assistants, he performs ALL of the repair work for books in the Main general collection and ALL of the major repair work for the Science general collection. He is a consummate diplomat, negotiating with other departments to solve problems without stepping on toes or ruffling feathers. He is a preservation missionary, carrying the gospel of "NEVER shelve the book on its fore-edge" to the dark continents of other departments that request preservation training sessions.

How would the work environment at the UGA Libraries be different without nominee?

Without Ryan's work, the book stacks would resemble a squalid refugee camp, full of books with flapping spines, loose covers, missing pages, and other bibliographic horrors. Repair work would take weeks rather than hours to accomplish, and many books with minor problems would have to be commercially rebound rather than repaired in-house (kind of like using reconstructive surgery to treat a hangnail). Our preservation program would reflect the worst of both worlds: expensive and inefficient.

Despite lack of recognition, what makes the nominee an integral part of the UGA Libraries' mission?

Ryan's work involves ordinary books (no sexy technology, no thrilling new electronic formats, no high public profile), but these are the materials that most people use most of the time, the materials people still associate with and appreciate most about libraries.

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

Ryan does all this and so much more while taking a full load of courses almost every semester. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it for myself.

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What is the nominee's position and what is the nature of his/her job?

Diane is a reference librarian and a whiz at graphic design.

How has the nominee's hard work affected your unit and/or department, as well as the Libraries?

Diane is always willing to contribute her talents to publicizing services of the Libraries, as well as LSA's many functions.

How would the work environment at the UGA Libraries be different without nominee?

The work environment and, indeed, our lives, would be less colorful, less bright and less informed.

Despite lack of recognition, what makes the nominee an integral part of the UGA Libraries' mission?

Everyone has come to depend on Diane's talents, creativity and work ethic because she so willingly goes beyond her assigned reference duties and helps everyone whether it is sending holiday cards to faculty, creating note cards for LSA to sell, designing the very ASSET Awards themselves, not to mention table tents, handouts and other essentials to help students.

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

A baker extraordinaire and a woman of mystery, Diane contributes to the Libraries in many ways. Her ability to courageously withstand the ad infinitum "tweaking" demanded by librarians is overshadowed only by her gracious and charming manner.

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What is the nominee's position and what is the nature of his/her job?

Diane is a Reference Librarian and also the American History resource specialist in the department. She staffs the Reference desk, teaches many instruction classes, serves on numerous library committees and also is the unofficial graphic design guru in the department. She also works closely with Lucille Davis training and supervising our student assistants.

How long has the employee been employed at the UGA Libraries?

Diane has been employed at the UGA Libraries since May 1991.

How has the nominee's hard work affected your unit and/or department, as well as the Libraries?

Diane's hard work constantly makes her Reference colleagues look better.

Whenever we need to create a new flyer for public relations or to design a better map to show 'Where in the world the folios are shelved?,' Diane has an idea in her head when you approach her about it. She is always one step ahead of us and will have a prototype to show us.

Sure, we get to pass out the great flyers to faculty and students and see them wax poetic about how great they look and they assume that we ourselves have often designed them. We tell them that Diane has done them for us and give her the feedback. However, Diane rarely receives the recognition first hand. Lastly, when you go back to tell Diane about the feedback, she is usually at the color printer already working on the next project for another one of us.

How would the work environment at the UGA Libraries be different without nominee?

It's not just Diane's design skills that benefit the Libraries.

Diane always helps out her colleagues in a pinch. Someone called in sick? Diane can take their desk hours.

Have to teach an 8am class and need some help? Diane is there to help us out.

She also does an incredible amount of community outreach: whether it is being a History Day Judge, a Peabody Judge, shepherding local middle school students through the building or speaking at a program at the public library or working on the Harriette Austin Writers' Conference.

Also, the mere fact that Diane is being nominated in this category will probably cause her to cringe. She doesn't seek out the spotlight and thinks all of this is just part of her job. Talk about being an unsung hero/ine! Even this nomination will make her shake her head.

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What is the nominee's position and what is the nature of his/her job?

Science Reference Assistant (LTA).

Giving reference service at the desk, via phone or e-mail. Overseeing and managing the Science Government Documents collection.

How long has the employee been employed at the UGA Libraries?

20 years.

How has the nominee's hard work affected your unit and/or department, as well as the Libraries?

Barb came to the Reference Dept. in 1997 after many years in InfoSouth. She brought with her a solid understanding of government publications and she quickly became our resident Government Documents Guru. She manages Science's Gov Doc collection and stays abreast of changes in their on-line resources. Consequently, she is always on call for that difficult or unusual Gov Doc question at the desk. She answers the call with the same smile and diligence no matter how often she is called upon.

Also, Barb is always eager to fill in at the Reference Desk whenever an opening arises because of meeting or illness. Night or day she will work, ensuring that assistance is available to patrons when they need it.

How would the work environment at the UGA Libraries be different without nominee?

Without Barb's assistance, many patrons would not find the government resources they are seeking for their research. Dissatisfied patrons become frustrated with other library staff and can taint the library's image to other potential users.

Her willingness to work at the desk whenever needed, means no gaps in coverage and assistance available for users at all times.

Despite lack of recognition, what makes the nominee an integral part of the UGA Libraries' mission?

Barb is a team player. She is always willing to help out, lend an ear or do a favor for someone. Her thoroughness as she assists patrons, or teaches them how to use the resources one on one, encourages users to return to the library and to seek assistance when needed. She is definitely a service oriented person who fills the service mission of the Libraries on a daily basis.

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

Losing a job because of cutbacks and having to start over in a totally different position is not easy. Barb has succeeded, gaining much confidence in her abilities over the last 2-3 years. She sees the big picture well and especially recognises the patron's perspective. These two things have helped her become an advocate for the patron when we discuss new procedures, look at new databases or formats. Her viewpoint helps us all to focus on the user and not just on what we think is best. She is an asset to the Department.

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