MENTORING AWARD:

This award recognizes a more experienced library employee (mentor) for taking a special interest in the development of a newer library employee (mentee).

Testimonial: For many years, the Digital Library of Georgia has benefited from the expertise, character, and kindness of Katha Massey. She has served as a mentor to everyone in the department
in her instruction, in the example she sets for quality work and professionalism, and for her generosity as a friend and colleague.

Those of us who have been fortunate enough to have received cataloging training from Katha know that her excellence as a teacher certainly draws upon her vast experience and expertise as a
cataloger (we all say that her records are works of art). But her generosity, tact, and gentle hand are equally important attributes as an instructor, because these things encourage newer professionals
to observe carefully, to consider things thoroughly, and gain confidence in our work as we learn.

When training us how to create subject headings to describe the materials that we work with, Katha could very easily have rushed through concepts and practices that were certainly elementary to her (and more than likely tedious), but she didn't. Instead, she very kindly and patiently touched upon the different ways we all may look at the same object and noting what was important to consider, but she managed to do this without questioning the validity of our own observations.

Of course, she'd also blow us away by showing us all of the headings she added in addition to the ones that we thought had thoroughly described the objects we were working on, but she did this with humility, and only in a way that revealed the depth and authority of
her knowledge--she did not diminish our work. If details were missed on our end, she was very careful not to question our judgment. Instead, she explained how she came to her own conclusion. Her sense of humor about the arcane, the esoteric, and the ridiculous aspects of cataloging always lightened the instruction.

I think the biggest thing that we've all learned from Katha is that when you know what you're talking about, people listen to you--even if you don't speak loudly or make a big show of it--and the way to know what you're talking about is to learn from the people around you and be receptive to new ideas and new ways to do things while not being impressed by novelty alone. She knows this place inside and out, and her extensive knowledge of library systems and practices is matched by her commitment to being a kind and supportive presence in the office. She always lets the people around her know that she notices and appreciates their work, and she is a calm and gentle presence even in times of stress and difficulty. We've learned a lot from her example that has helped us well beyond the doors of the Library.

We always love hearing Katha's stories about how things have been
at the libraries over the years--someone please conduct an oral history interview with her! And she is unmatched in her ability to stealthily provide cookies for the department at times when they are needed the most. Katha unquestionably brings gravitas to our workplace and to the work we do, but people can still do that without her grace, her integrity, or her kind-heartedness. Katha is the compass that quietly guides and reminds us that these things matter too.