University Libraries Faculty and Staff Awards

Awards recognizing University Libraries faculty and staff.


Inspirational Customer Service Award

This award is designed to acknowledge and reward individual staff efforts in providing excellent customer service to library patrons. An award will be presented during both the fall and spring semesters, and the recipients will be honored at a yearly awards reception held in June. While not all library employees work directly with patrons, all staff have the potential to make contributions that will positively impact the provision of customer service in the University Libraries.

Eligibility

All employees (faculty, professional, and classified staff) of the University Libraries are eligible for this award.

Criteria

Those persons nominated for the Inspirational Customer Service Award must have provided inspirational customer service. The nominee should have substantially exceeded the performance expected for the position, objective, or assignment in quality and/or quantity. The performance of the employee will have set a standard of excellence in relation to the mission of the University Libraries.

Recognition

The Inspirational Customer Service Award recipient will be notified via a letter from the Joint Awards Committee (a copy of this letter will also be sent to the nominator). This will be followed by a one-time payment of $500 (after taxes), processed via the Libraries' Administration office. Both semesters' recipients will be honored at a joint awards ceremony held during the spring semester.

In addition, the award recipient will have the opportunity to select a book or media title to be added to the UNLV Collections; the book will bear the recipient’s name on a bookplate. Please note that the item must not exceed $100 and that the recipient may also choose to select a book that is already in the collections.

Recent Winners

  • Spring 2010: Frances Ohman
  • Fall 2010: Sidney Watson
  • Spring 2011: Dan Werra
  • Fall 2011: Michael Pearson
  • Spring 2012: Su Kim Chung
  • Fall 2012: Rosan Mitola
  • Spring 2013: Yuko Shinozaki
  • Fall 2013: Delores Brownlee
  • Spring 2014: Shelley Heaton
  • Fall 2014: Jason Aubin
  • Spring 2015: Terry Deem
  • Spring 2016: Hugh Aoki
  • Fall 2016: Kelly Lutz
  • Spring 2017: Rachelle Weigel
  • Fall 2017: Amanda Melilli
  • Spring 2018: Kelsey Lupo
  • Fall 2018: Carol Ou & Kristen Costello
  • Spring 2019: Hilla Sang
  • Fall 2019: RC Wonderly
  • Spring 2020: Ajax Delvecki
  • Fall 2020: Darcy Del Bosque and Stormye Hendrix
  • Spring 2021: Heng-Wei Cheng
  • Fall 2021: Emily Earnest
  • Spring 2022: Kristen Costello
  • Fall 2022: David Ramos Candelas
  • Spring 2023: Darcy Del Bosque and Lateka Grays

Innovative Solutions Award

This award recognizes a library faculty member or professional staff member for demonstrated innovation and creative thinking to solve a problem or challenge or to improve upon an existing practice in the provision of library services and resources. These award winners demonstrate that new and different approaches, coupled with high energy and a willingness to take a risk, can result in exciting outcomes.

Eligibility

Library faculty members and professional staff members are eligible.

Criteria

In the 12-month period prior to their nomination, candidates for the award must have developed original and innovative programs, plans, or ideas to resolve an issue or improve an existing practice. Nominees should have substantially exceeded the performance expected for their position, objective, or assignment in quality and/or quantity.

Recognition

A congratulatory letter will be sent to the award winner. A copy will also be sent to the nominator(s). This will be followed by a one-time payment of $500 (after taxes), processed via the Libraries' Administration office. Award winners will be honored at an annual library wide ceremony with the presentation of a certificate.

Recent Winners

  • 2005: Hong Zhang
  • 2006: Vicki Nozero
  • 2007: Michaelyn Haslam
  • 2008: Alex Dolski
  • 2009: Nancy Kress
  • 2010: Darcy Del Bosque
  • 2011: Michael Yunkin
  • 2012: Silvia Southwick
  • 2013: Erin Rinto & Frederic Rauber
  • 2014: Richard Zwiercan
  • 2015: Cyndi Shein
  • 2016: Emily Lapworth
  • 2017: Lateka Grays
  • 2018: Brittany Fiedler & Chelsea Heinbach
  • 2019: Leah Howd
  • 2020: Johnny Wang
  • 2021: Seth Shaw

McPhee Librarian of the Year Award

The McPhee Librarian of the Year Award is an annual award given on a competitive basis to library faculty within the University Libraries.

Eligibility

The Library Faculty member must have been employed by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries full-time for at least five continuous years at the faculty librarian level. Emphasis will be placed on accomplishments during the previous year and the cumulative record of the past five years.

Criteria

Consideration will be based on overall outstanding performance. The library faculty member must have made a major contribution to the library, the university, the community, and/or the profession.

Recognition

Award winners will be honored at an annual library-wide ceremony with the presentation of a certificate and a one-time stipend of $1,000.00. 

Recent Winners:

  • 2006: Kenneth Bierman
  • 2007: Su Kim Chung
  • 2008: Jennifer Fabbi
  • 2009: Susie Skarl
  • 2010: Priscilla Finley
  • 2011: Jason Vaughan
  • 2012: Lateka Grays
  • 2013: Cory Lampert
  • 2014: Cory Tucker
  • 2015: Su Kim Chung
  • 2016: Rosan Mitola
  • 2017: Marilyn Vent
  • 2018: Samantha Godbey
  • 2019: Carol Ou
  • 2020: Peter Michel
  • 2021: Patrick Griffis
  • 2022: Sue Wainscott
  • 2023: Xan Goodman

Outstanding Library Faculty Scholarship Award

The Outstanding Library Faculty Scholarship Award is an annual award given on a competitive basis to library faculty within the University Libraries.

Eligibility

The library faculty member must have been employed by the University Libraries for at least one year.

Criteria

Consideration will be based on overall outstanding scholarship. Emphasis will be placed on scholarship efforts made during the previous year. The library faculty member must have made a major contribution to the library, the university, the community, and/or the profession.

Recognition

Award winners will be honored at an annual library-wide ceremony with the presentation of a certificate and will receive a one-time stipend of $500 (after taxes).

Recent Winners

  • 2008: Cory Lampert
  • 2009: Jeanne Brown
  • 2010: Cory Tucker
  • 2011: Jason Vaughan
  • 2012: Paula McMillen
  • 2013: Dave Schwartz
  • 2014: Marianne Buehler
  • 2015: Silvia Southwick
  • 2016: Melissa Bowles-Terry
  • 2017: Starr Hoffman
  • 2018: Cyndi Shein
  • 2019: Emily Lapworth
  • 2020: Samantha Godbey
  • 2021: Claytee White
  • 2022: Chelsea Heinbach
  • 2023: Sarah Jones

Outstanding Library Faculty Service Award

The Outstanding Library Faculty Service Award is an annual award given on a competitive basis to library faculty within the University Libraries.

Eligibility

The library faculty member must have been employed by University Libraries for at least one year.

Criteria

Consideration will be based on overall outstanding service. The library faculty member must have made a major contribution to the library, the university, the community, or the profession. Emphasis will be placed on accomplishments during the previous year.

Recognition

Award winners will be honored at an annual library-wide ceremony with the presentation of a certificate and will receive a one-time stipend of $500 (after taxes).

Recent Winners

  • 2008: Jeanne Brown
  • 2009: Cory Tucker
  • 2010: Patrick Griffis
  • 2011: Cory Lampert
  • 2012: Jeanne Brown
  • 2013: Cyrus Ford
  • 2014: Cory Tucker
  • 2015: Kristen Costello
  • 2016: John Watts
  • 2017: Erin Rinto
  • 2018: Xan Goodman
  • 2019: Melissa Bowles-Terry
  • 2020: Brittany Paloma Fiedler
  • 2021: Lateka Grays
  • 2022: Amanda Melilli
  • 2023: Samantha Godbey

Classified Employee of the Year Award

The Classified Employee of the Year Award is an annual award given on a competitive basis to classified employees within University Libraries.

Eligibility

The classified staff member must have at least three years of continuous service in the University Libraries. The staff member must also be employed full-time during the fiscal year when the award presentation is made.

Criteria

Consideration will be based on concern for the Libraries and its goals; attitude toward fellow employees, students, faculty, and the public; and exceptional work achievement within the preceding two calendar years.

Recognition

Award winners will be honored at an annual library-wide ceremony with the presentation of a certificate and will receive a one-time stipend of $500 (after taxes).

Recent Winners

  • 2008: Kathleen Marx
  • 2009: Sheila Beard
  • 2010: Charles Mrozek
  • 2011: Carmen Stern
  • 2012: Rachelle Weigel
  • 2013: Kelly Robertson
  • 2014: Pat McCarty
  • 2015: Heng-Wei Cheng
  • 2016: John Fox
  • 2017: Cris Carranto
  • 2018: Delores Brownlee
  • 2019: Chris Barragato
  • 2020: Heng-Wei Cheng
  • 2021: Jerome Overstreet
  • 2022: Katherine Keller
  • 2023: Yuko Shinozaki

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