Helen Reed is the recipient of the Distinction in Library Services Award which “recognize[s] the efforts of a single person or a continuously working team in the service of libraries in Colorado.” The award reviews nominees time spent in library services, demonstrated innovation in library services, and proven leadership beyond a job title. As nominator George Machovec, Executive Director of the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries (Alliance), points out Reed was key in creating the statewide library sharing system, Prospector, as well as developing digital repositories across the state. She has served on the boards for both the Alliance and the Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC); she was a member of the statewide Open Educational Resources Council; and she was the recipient of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services Presidential Citation Award.
Sarah Vaughn received the Lucy Schweers Award for Excellence in Support Services. This award, named after former UNC University Libraries employee Lucy Schweers, recognizes “support services staff who demonstrate outstanding leadership and service” who “serve patrons and communities in a way that goes beyond basic requirements of their job.” Associate Dean of Libraries Jayne Blodgett nominated Vaughn because of her work earlier this year serving as Special Assistant to the Interim Dean. Vaughn took on additional administrative tasks, and in March worked quickly with other members of the Libraries administration, faculty, and staff to develop a plan for meeting patron needs during the pandemic. Blodgett writes “I don’t know how UNC’s University Libraries would have made it through this semester without Sarah’s hard work and guidance. She is a true leader. She demonstrates the very best values of a librarian, and she is, to me, the best example of how libraries could not function without support staff.”
