Outstanding Mentor/Trainer
Awarded to the mentor or trainer who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, nurturing, or providing guidance to others. Depth of knowledge, outstanding communication skills, use of innovative teaching methods, and/or special awareness of the needs of trainees may distinguish this exceptional mentor/teacher.
Katha Massey (1 of 2)
DLG/Metadata
How has the nominee demonstrated excellence in teaching, nurturing, or providing guidance to others?
Katha is always available to explain rudimentary cataloging procedures and the logic behind cataloging decisions, which can be complex and cumbersome. Several members of our unit have worked on our Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps project, and Katha has patiently worked with each of us.Please describe how has the nominee frequently and consistently surpasses normal expectations.
She has worked directly with many people throughout UGA Libraries. Her expertise, sophisticated graphic sensibility and congeniality are all part of the great package that is Katie.How has the knowledge the nominee shared affected another person's or yours career?
I have found (in what little experience I have had with cataloging) that I have the opportunity to learn a significant amount of information, particularly when I have to do research on an item. Whenever I think of how much I have learned in a day, I am keenly aware of how many more times Katha has done this, in much greater detail.Please describe the nominee's communication skills. How do these skills attribute to his/her nomination for Outstanding Mentor/Trainer?
Clearly, Katha is knowledgable and experienced; but what sets her apart as a mentor/ trainer is her integrity and modesty. Even when she is explaining something that might be painfully basic to her, she never questions the intelligence or capability of the novice she is training.Has the nominee used any innovative training/teaching methods? If so, what are they, and how have they affected you and/or others?
What I am especially impressed by is the fact that Katha consistently strikes the (difficult) balance between a healthy respect for precedent and detail versus "foolish consistencies."What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?
Katha also takes a great deal of pleasure in bringing treats to the office for our staff and student workers; she always contributes to parties, exchanges fun holiday gifts, and she is much-loved by all in the office.Katha Massey (2 of 2)
DLG/Metadata
How has the nominee demonstrated excellence in teaching, nurturing, or providing guidance to others?
Katha serves as the DLG's subject analysis guru. This past summer, Katha trained our HomePLACE intern, Leigh Ann, the art of subject analysis. Before arriving, Leigh Ann had little traditional cataloging training. Through her work with Katha, she has become exemplary in this aspect of descriptive work. Not only did Katha instill the mechanics of coordinating subjects, she taught Leigh Ann how to think like a cataloger.How has the knowledge the nominee shared affected another person's or yours career?
Without Katha's training and mentorship, Leigh Ann would not have gained the skills need to attain her current professional position as the HomePLACE Digital Project Archivist.Please describe the nominee's communication skills. How do these skills attribute to his/her nomination for Outstanding Mentor/Trainer?
Katha is a patient trainer. She listens effectively and nudges those she's training in the right direction. She's always eager to discuss the issues behind a problem and to show the ways one might consider the different aspects of an issue.What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?
I rely heavily on Katha for her advice and for her ability to nurture new catalogers. She creates a positive, intellectual environment and trains us all how to think critically about description.Jeannie Ledford
Georgia Newspaper Projects
How has the nominee demonstrated excellence in teaching, nurturing, or providing guidance to others?
Jeannie is wise, kind, thoughtful, and a sharp cookie to boot. She runs a tight ship, but is always accessible, and I am fortunate to have heard her spin a yarn or two.How has the knowledge the nominee shared affected another person's or yours career?
She is the zen master. Jeannie has always provided me with thoughtful, reflective advice, and has helped me think carefully not only about how choices affect my career but how I should also consider how they affect my life.Please describe the nominee's communication skills. How do these skills attribute to his/her nomination for Outstanding Mentor/Trainer?
If there were ever a steel magnolia in our day and age, it would be Jeannie.Has the nominee used any innovative training/teaching methods? If so, what are they, and how have they affected you and/or others?
Jeannie delivers her message in clear, plain-spoken terms in order to keep her ship clean, oiled, and air-tight! Always measured with that, though, is a kindness that she reflects to her students and co-workers, who all feel lucky to have gotten to know her.What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?
Jeannie often speaks about how proud she is of her son, a military officer, who has recently received an assignment that will take him to Iraq.David Smith
Access Services
How has the nominee demonstrated excellence in teaching, nurturing, or providing guidance to others?
From the moment I started working here 6 months ago Dave was completely approachable, willing to help with any and all questions. I, along with my colleagues, know that when we have a question he will not only answer it, but but make sure we completly understand. Dave is always calm and makes one feel as if there are no stupid questions.How has the knowledge the nominee shared affected another person's or yours career?
Each time someone is hired Dave takes a considerable amount of time training them on reserves. Without his help we would be lost! Each day he takes time to answer questions and does not hesitate to stop what he is doing to help others. In addition to his current knowledge of reserves, he is attending graduate school to further his education in library science.Please describe the nominee's communication skills. How do these skills attribute to his/her nomination for Outstanding Mentor/Trainer?
Dave is always cheerful in the workplace. His communication skills are key to his being nominated. He has the ability to connect with each employee by not only being personable, but by being willing to help. He constantly sends out e-mails, along with coming to each of us when needed. As stated before, he takes as much time as necessary to explain details until they are fully understood.Has the nominee used any innovative training/teaching methods? If so, what are they, and how have they affected you and/or others?
Dave is truly interested in his profession, which shows when he is teaching and training. He channels that interest into teaching others what he knows so that we can pass that knowledge on to co-workers. His methods are innovative in that he takes time to introduce, explain, and break down each aspect of reserves and what is involved. Like I mentioned before, no questions go unanswered and no employee ever feels as if they cannot approach Dave.What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?
Dave's presence is very much appreciated in the office not only for all his help, but also because of his attitude. He is always cheerful, smiling, and happy, which makes a huge difference within the workplace. His willingness to help people extends not only to fellow employees, but also to patrons.Dan Murphy
????????? (they keep changing the name)
How has the nominee demonstrated excellence in teaching, nurturing, or providing guidance to others?
Taught me that sometimes you gotta take care of yourself first. Because no one else will.How has the knowledge the nominee shared affected another person's or yours career?
I decline to answer that question on the grounds that it may incriminate me.Greta Reisel Browning
Richard B. Russell Library
How has the nominee demonstrated excellence in teaching, nurturing, or providing guidance to others?
Greta loves to teach others and encourage them in their work, regardless of their apprehensions at trying something new. She supervises many students in her department and always shows much patience with them as well as going out of her way to explain procedures in great detail to assure they understand the the task at hand. Greta is truly a teacher at heart.How has the knowledge the nominee shared affected another person's or yours career?
Greta definitely influences other people in their careers with her enthusiasm for her own job. She has often shared her own experience and knowledge with me so that I may have the information needed to fulfill some new job responsibilities. I have also seen many of her colleagues as well as patrons as for her advice, and she never hesitates to volunteer her expertise.Please describe the nominee's communication skills. How do these skills attribute to his/her nomination for Outstanding Mentor/Trainer?
Greta has excellent communication skills. She discusses work issues with her co-workers on a regular basis and serves as a facilitator for communication at department meetings. Greta always explains policies to patrons in great detail so that they understand what is expected of them.Has the nominee used any innovative training/teaching methods? If so, what are they, and how have they affected you and/or others?
Greta makes a concerted effort to use innovative teaching methods when supervising her student assistants. She explains to them what their projects will be but does not micromanage them. She varies her teaching methods according to each students' personality and work methods. As a result, her assistants clearly see what their responsiblities area and come to respect their supervisor because she respects their individuality.What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?
Greta is a wonderful person to work with due to her friendly demeanor, objectivity, and impartiality.Emily Giles
Cataloging
How has the nominee demonstrated excellence in teaching, nurturing, or providing guidance to others?
Despite the continuous turnover in Database Maintenance, Emily really goes the extra mile in training and keeping staff motivated. Her easy going and calm manner, her ability to distill very complex practices and procedures to new staff, as well as her ability to keep the senior staff engaged and motivated, is amazing. Emily works very closely with all of the staff in the Maintenance Unit, to ensure that the appropriate work for the varying levels of expertise in the Unit is distributed accordingly, while continuing training and developing expertise, so that staff can reach their potential. Emily's greatest strength is training and working with staff. In the past year, the Maintenance Unit investigated and resolved close to 100,000 GIL records, thanks in a large part to Emily's expertise in training.How has the knowledge the nominee shared affected another person's or yours career?
During the extended time that the Section Head was out sick, Emily successfully ran the Maintenance Unit with minimal assistance. Emily bore the responsibility of this very well, and under her guidance, the staff continued to evolve and develop as a team. Emily's diligence, compassion, and respect for her staff, mean that they always feel free to approach her with any issue. Additionally, her depth of knowledge about GIL and history of the Libraries/Cataloging Dept., especially in regards to the Maintenance Unit, make Emily an asset to the department and the libraries as a whole. She always shares her experience and knowledge in a positive and motivational way and she is an excellent teacher who patiently and clearly answers questions. In training, Emily wisely starts with the basics and has a very keen sense of when each step has been mastered and when to move on to the next step so as to keep momentum but not overwhelm new staff with information.Please describe the nominee's communication skills. How do these skills attribute to his/her nomination for Outstanding Mentor/Trainer?
Emily clearly and logically teaches in a positive and motivational fashion. She is very patient and encouraging, even when staff sometimes feel that they "aren't getting it". She is very good at adapting her teaching style to better address the learning needs of individual staff. Emily's communication skills with her staff is one of her strong suits, and enables her to be the kind of trainer that she is.Has the nominee used any innovative training/teaching methods? If so, what are they, and how have they affected you and/or others?
Emily uses her knowledge that she has gained as an Instructional Technology student to better address training and teaching needs within the Maintenance Unit. In training, Emily is able to move the 'supervisor role' to the background, so that staff are able to focus on the learning and feel comfortable with asking questions. She really works to provide many different training mechanisms from written procedures to hands on training to online tutorials. For each new staff person in the Maintenance Unit, Emily provides a list of tutorials and carefully structures their first week so that they have a mix of tutorials and learning combined with hands on training. Additionally, she schedules time for the new staff member with the Maintenance and Marking Unit staff, providing an opportunity to build a team environment, as well as just get to know co-workers. Emily provides relevant real world examples from which staff could learn. She demonstrates the more complex procedures then allows staff the opportunity to apply what they've learned. Learning by doing reinforces what is learned by watching. Additionally, she carefully reviews work, and has brought the senior staff into the process, thus giving them some variety in their work and a chance to develop their expertise even more, while also, delegating work.What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?
Emily has trained many staff in her time at the Libraries and many staff have remarked positively on their experiences with her in training.