Friends of the UNCG Libraries

L-R Interim Dean of University Libraries Kathy Crowe with Staff Service Award Winner Kathelene McCarty Smith Kathelene McCarty Smith of the Special Collections and University Archives Department has been named the winner of the University Libraries Staff Service Award for 2016.  Created by long-time Circulation Department Head Martha Ransley upon her retirement, the Award was first given in 1998.  The award recognizes and rewards members of the SPA Library Staff who provide outstanding leadership and service in furthering the accomplishment of the mission of the Library to provide service to students, faculty, staff and members of the community which the University serves." In the statement announcing her award, McCarty-Smith was recognized for her subject and technical expertise, deep subject knowledge, initiative, grace and enthusiasm, and her professional and university service.  She started out as a student worker and was hired in 2010 as a full-time staff membe...

Ann Perdue of Access Services has received the University Libraries Staff Service Award for 2015. Ann Perdue The University Libraries Staff Service Award was established in 1997 upon the retirement of Martha Ransley, former Head of the Circulation Department "to recognize and reward members of the SPA Library Staff who provide outstanding leadership and service in furthering the accomplishment of the mission of the Library to provide service to students, faculty, staff and members of the community which the University serves." Ann Perdue with Martha Ransley, who created the Staff Service Award Ann has actually been employed by the library twice -- from 1994-1998 and then coming back from more in 2007.  She started in 1994 as the Circulation Desk Manager, moved into the Stacks Manager position in 1996, left the Library in 1998, but came back in 2007 when the Stacks/Remote Storage Manager position became available. In announcing her award, her nominator cited ...

The University Libraries at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) recently completed its fourth annual Staff Development Week May 11-15.  Designed as one of the responses to the Libraries’ 2011 ClimateQual Survey, Staff Development Week consists of a number of varied programs planned by a committee of paraprofessional and professional staff.  The week after graduation was chosen so that the event could be held during a week identified as low impact in order to allow everyone to participate. Examples of event types are personal enrichment; job-related skills; health and fitness; teamwork; career enhancement; and communication techniques and styles. Suggestions for events are solicited from the staff. The events have a foundation within the diverse experiences of existing staff as well as expertise brought in from outside the libraries. Several keystone programs are held each year during week, including presentation of the Staff Service Award created in 1997 "to ...

(L-R) 2013 Service Award Winner Susan Hendrickson with 2014 Winner Katherine Nunnally (photo by Cheryl Cross) "To recognize and reward members of the SPA Library Staff who provide outstanding leadership and service in furthering the accomplishment of the mission of the Library to provide service to students, faculty, staff and members of the community which the University serves." Martha Ransley For a number of years after Martha Ransley created the Staff Service Award for the University Libraries upon her retirement in 1997, she knew all of the first recipients well, and had mentored most of them. In more recent years, the award has gone to people who have come to work here after Martha retired, but they still demonstrate many of the same qualities that she admired and helped instill in the culture of the Libraries during her tenure.  Katherine Nunnally, the 2014 winner of the staff service award, is such a person.  Nominating forms submitted recommen...

Cheryl Cross (right, with 2011 winner Cindy Zaruba) is the winner of the 2012 Martha Ransley University Libraries Service Award . Cheryl is a Technology Support Analyst in the Libraries’ Electronic Resources and Information Technology Department. Her pleasant attitude and service-oriented approach to solving problems with computers and software, together with her knowledge of information technology, has brought her many expressions of appreciation from all over the Libraries and led to her selection for this year’s award. In addition to all Cheryl’s official duties, she works on a number of projects promoting the Libraries’ services. Some of the projects include producing videos and podcasts, and assisting in the creation of the Computer Accessibility Map for Jackson Library. All of these projects have elicited positive feedback from the Libraries’ patrons, and several people have expressed their particular enjoyment of the “Ask Us” video to other staff. Cheryl has served on the S...

Cindy Zaruba (on left in photo with award creator Martha Ransley) has won the Staff Service Award at the University Libraries for 2011. Cindy was extolled by her colleagues as a truly gifted problem solver--efficient, hardworking, and productive. She is known for solving workflow problems with an eye on how a patron would approach searching and how decisions will influence the work flow between departments. Within the Cataloging Department, Cindy leads by example, calling little attention to her accomplishments. She often volunteers for anything that needs doing, tackling complex projects with skill, diligence, and cheer. She is known for her balanced perspective and dry sardonic humor. Having worked in five different positions with in her nearly thirty years with the Libraries, Cindy is also respected for her wise counsel and historical memory of the library. Cindy is also a respected leader and teacher, having spent much time training student assistants, library faculty and staff, ...

The University Libraries Staff Service Award was established in 1997 upon the retirement of Martha Ransley, former Head of the Circulation Department,"to recognize and reward members of the SPA library staff who provide outstanding leadership and service in furthering the accomplishment of the mission of the Library to provide service to students, faculty, staff and members of the community which the University serves." The 2010 University Libraries’ Staff Service Award was presented to Stacey Krim in May. Stacey works in Jackson Library, where she coordinates commercial serials binding among the Cataloging, Access Services, Music Library, Preservation and Binding departments. She also creates and maintains procedures for NC DOCKS institutional repository materials, and reformats, digitizes or collaborates with various departments for major serials cancellations and closeout projects. Stacey has been active in making the library more inclusive, sharing knowledge, and working...

Susan Farr (on right in photo), Documents Manager at Jackson Library, has received the University Libraries Staff Service Award for 2009. The award recognizes and rewards members of the SPA library staff who provide outstanding leadership and service in furthering the accomplishment of the library's mission. Susan has worked in the University Libraries since 1997. In presenting the award, Service Award Committee Chair Carolyn Shankle (on left in photo by Dean Rhoades) likened Susan's work to that of a gardener, knowing how and where to weed to keep a collection strong. The federal documents collection has been weeded, moved and reclassified during Susan's time in the position. "She knows the topography of the collection," Shankle says, "its strengths and weaknesses, and serves as an able guide to all who want to reference it for added wisdom." Farr was also commended for her work on the blog, "In the News" at http://uncggovinfo.blogspot.com/ ...