Library Employee Awards Program Award Categories

1. Rookie of the Year Award

The purpose of the Rookie of the Year Award is to recognize and distinguish a new employee who has shown outstanding performance in their current position. Up to two Rookie of the Year awards may be conferred each year.

Eligibility

Criteria

2. Extra Mile Award

This award recognizes employees who have gone above and beyond their regular assignment within the Libraries in very specific and recognizable ways. While many employees go the extra mile all the time, this award acknowledges the service and dedication of those who take on one or more special initiatives to help others in the Libraries at large through service they were not called upon to do. Up to two awards may be given each year.

Eligibility

Criteria

3. Keystone Award

The Keystone Award recognizes employees who make the Libraries, the campus, or the community a better place. The Keystone award is designed to honor employees who share their talents, creativity, and special skills in ways that connect library departments to one another, to the campus, or to the community at large. Keystone award winners may be recognized for activities that improve the climate or morale within the library or for volunteer efforts on campus or in the community, state, or beyond. Up to two awards may be given each year.

Eligibility

Criteria

Keystone activities include, but are not limited to:

4. Outstanding Support Service Award

The purpose of the Outstanding Support Service Award is to recognize officially graduate assistants, hourly, and work-study students who demonstrate exceptional and/or outstanding performance, service, or contributions.  

Eligibility

Criteria

5. Team Project Award

The Team Project Award recognizes the achievements of employees who work together as a group to complete a library project. This award highlights the group project which best achieves new efficiencies in library services, enhances user services, and/or promotes the public image of the Libraries and employees, thus enabling the Libraries to better serve the University and surrounding communities. Only one award will be conferred per award year. In addition to filling out the nomination form, nominators must include a list of all persons who participated in a significant way in the creation, planning, coordination, or execution of the project. There is no limit to how long a period a team member is employed. The project must be completed within the calendar year previous to the year the award would be conferred.

Definition of Team Project

A team project is characterized by group effort, often (but not always) outside routine work flows. It is awarded only to teams that successfully complete a specific task or goal, either within a department or across departments.  Unlike ongoing work duties, a special project will have a beginning and an end.

Eligibility

Criteria

A suitable project for this award would exhibit these qualities:

6. University Libraries Commitment Award

The University Libraries Commitment Award recognizes employees who demonstrate exceptional and/or outstanding commitment and dedication to autonomously gain new skills and knowledge through professional instruction related to Academic Research Library operations. Awarded annually, eligible employees may receive the award twice.

Eligibility

Criteria