MALC Awards Listing
2008 Librarian of the Year, Michigan Library Association
Clifford Haka
Director of the Michigan State University Libraries, Michigan State University
"Cliff exemplifies a leader who acknowledges Michigan State's leadership role for all libraries in Michigan and has shown exceptional regard for enhancing library cooperation throughout the state. His actions clearly demonstrate his dedication to MSU's land-grant mission and the library's responsibility to the state.
Cliff has long been a proponent of statewide projects. in the early days of access to the MeL databases, he lent strong support to other Michigan libraries by offering interlibrary loan at no charge for articles that were not available in full-text. MSU was positoned to fill a need, and Cliff stepped up to the plate.
Cliff's leadership and foresight were instrumental in bringing MeLCat, a statewide interlibrary loan system, into reality. In 2000, the MSU libraries received a grant to develop a prototype system that became the model for MeLCat. As a direct result of the grant project, users at more than 250 libraries around the state now have access to a collection of more than 7 million titles and can place holds to have books, CDs, and DVDs delivered promptly and at no-charge. MeLCat is a great achievement, and it would not have been accomplished as quickly or as effectively without Cliff's foresight and support for the pilot project.
When the Library of Michigan needed to move to an enhanced version of its integrated online library system and was not able to do so independently, Cliff proposed that the MSU Libraries system become the host for the Library of Michigan's online catalog. It took a visionary library director to see that this was not just a bail out for another sister institution, but that it would improve library service in the state generally, and in doing so would be a boon for the users of the MSU Libraries system as well." (Quoted from the MLA 2008 Annual Conference booklet: Shaping Our Tomorrow)
2008 Loleta D. Fyan Award, Michigan Library Association
Angie Kelleher
Access Services Librarian, Alma College
Angie oversees Circulation Services and interlibrary Loan, teaches information literacy classes, advises student groups, and also works as an academic advisor. Angie created the Michigan Author Series for the Alma College Library. This program has opened doors for collaboration between the library and academic departments to introduce students to a wide range of local writers and poets. (Quoted from MLA 2008 Annual Conference booklet: Shaping Our Tomorrow)
2008 G. Flint Purdy Memorial Award, Wayne State University
Karen Bacsanyi
Librarian, Wayne State University Library System
"Karen was selected for this award for making the Wayne State Library System an outstanding faciltiy in support of the teaching and research needs of the University community and her continued service in making the Library and Information Science Program an outstanding unit in support of University teaching and research goals. During her career with the Library System, she provided exemplary service and leadership to the libraries, university and the librarian profession. She established a pattern of consistent support and mentorship to emerging librarians and gave selflessly of her time and experience to help those begining new careers in librarianship."
"Karen has touched so many lives in so many ways," said Veronica Bielat, the Wayne State librarian that nominated Bacsanyi for the award. "Her name is spoken of with respect and admiration by those in the profession." (Quoted from Outlook: A Newsletter from the Wayne State University Library System, Fall 08)
2008 Libraries/IDS Employee of the Year
Russell Davidson, III
Director and Senior Designer, Instructional Design Studio, University of Detroit Mercy
Russ was honored for his Creativity, Leadership, and innovative Design in the Instructional Design Studio. Over the last year, Russ took the lead in writing and designing the Fr. Charles Coughlin and Maurice Greenia special collections web sites and designed the updated Libraries/IDS Re:Search portal. In addition, Russ made significant revisions to the UDM Faculty Authored works section of the portal, expanding it to include journal articles, books selections, and conference procedings.
2008 Libraries/IDS Employee of the Year
Linda Papa
Instructional Designer, University of Detroit Mercy
With appreciation, Linda was honored for her oustanding instructional design support and teamwork in the Instructional Design Studio. Over the last year Linda worked with several faculty members to design and develop course sites, including incorporating media into their courses. She recorded, edited and published audio content for the UDM Black Abolitionist Archive web site.
2008 Libraries/IDS Employee of the Year
L. Michael Verdusco
Assistant Director for IDS Business Services and Instructional Designer, University of Detroit Mercy
Mike Verdusco was honored for his outstanding instructional design and teamwork in the Instructional Design Studio. Over the last year Mike provided Blackboard support to the faculty and students, conducted faculty and student training workshops, worked on digital special collections, videotaped and edited several University events, and enhanced and maintained the MALC web site.
2007 ACRL DLS Haworth Press Distance Learning Librarian Conference Sponsorship Award
Anne Marie Casey
Associate Dean of Libraries, Central Michigan University
Anne Marie Casey was named the 2007 recipient of the ACRL Distance Learning Section Haworth Press Distance Learning Librarian Conference Sponsorship Award, an annual award honoring an ACRL member working in the field of, or contributing to the success of, distance learning librarianship or related library service in higher education. "Anne Marie Casey has a long and distinguished record of service in the Distance Learning Section and in off-campus librarianship," said Connie Hildebrand, chair of the DLS award committee. "Her professional activities show an outstanding contribution to this field." Anne Marie's numerous DLS activities include serving as chair from 2001-02, having multiple appointments as member and chair of the Social Events Planning Committee from 2003-08, and as secretary/archivist from 1995-97. She currently serves on the Michigan Library Association Board of Directors and was Member-at-Large of MLA from 2003-05.
2007 Libraries/IDS Employee of the Year Award
JoAnn Chalmers
Director of Dental Library Services, University of Detroit Mercy, School of Dentistry Library
JoAnn Chalmers was recognized for her diligence is preparing an accurate inventory of the thousands of UDM journal volumes being held in storage.
2007 Libraries/IDS Employee of the Year Award
Kris McLonis
Cataloging and Database Management and Government Documents Librarian, University of Detroit Mercy
Kris McLonis was recognized for her stamina and deligience in the evaluation, weeding, and offering of materials from the government documents collection. Kris has been responsible for the evaluation and merging of the government documents collections from the two former institutions, Mercy College of Detroit and the University of Detroit. Kris has not wavered in her determination to complete this multi-year project.
2007 Libraries/IDS Employee of the Year Award
Sue Homant
Head of Reference, McNichols Campus Library, University of Detroit Mercy
Sue Homant was recognized for her leadership and teamwork in developing the first student "gaming" day in the library and expanding of SearchQuest. The "Searching for an Article" section of the SearchQuest self-paced tutorial has been expanded to include searching specifically for education, health science, and psychology mateials.
2007 Virginia Boucher - OCLC Distinguished Interlibrary Loan Librarian Award
Anne K. Beaubien
Director and Cooperative Access Services and Grants Officer, University of Michigan, University Library
The award recognizes and honors a librarian for outstanding professional achievement, leadership and contributions to ILL and document delivery
2006 Life Membership Award, Michigan Library Association
Linda Farynk
Director, Melvin J. Zahnow Library, Saginaw Valley State University
Linda Farynk was presented with the MLA Life Membership Award in 2006 for her outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of librarianship and for her active participation at the local and state level on behalf of the Michigan Library Association. This award was recommended by the MLA Executive Board in recognition of Linda's extraordinary efforts as President during the time the Association was without an Executive Director, among other challenging circumstances.
2006 Commitment to Excellence Rising Star Award
Jessica Grimes
Circulation Assistant, University of Detroit Mercy, Dental School Library
Jessica received the University's award in recognition of her unprecedented efforts and sustained excellence in discharging her responsibilities. The Rising Star Award is given to a staff or administrative employee who has served the University for less than two years.
2006 Libraries/IDS Employee/Department of the Year Award
Nicole Almond
Circulation Assistant, University of Detroit Mercy, McNichols Campus Library
Nicole was recognized for the competence, efficiency, and enthusiasm she has brought to the department as one of its new employees.
2006 Libraries/IDS Employee/Department of the Year Award
Maurice Greenia
Circulation Assistant and Curator, University of Detroit Mercy, McNichols Campus Library
Maurice was recognized for his work as curator of the Library lobby display area and for his restoration and preservation of the libraries' books.
2006 Libraries/IDS Employee/Department of the Year Award
Betty J. Nelson
Head of Circulation, McNichols Campus Library, University of Detroit Mercy
Betty was honored with the first Libraries/IDS Employee/Department of the Year Award. She was recognized for her excellent leadership, patience with patrons and her staff development skills.
2006 Award of Excellence, Michigan Library Association
Wen-ying Lu
Catalog Librarian and Linguistics Bibliographer, Michigan Stare University Libraries
Ms. Wen-ying Lu has distinguished herself in the world of serial cataloging and was instrumental in MSU attaining CONSER associate status. Lu defines excellence in serial librarianship. She is bright, gregarious, tireless, and exceptionally cooperative, a joy to work with, and thoroughtly deserving of the MLA Award of Excellence. (Quoted from 2006 MLA Conference Book)
2006 Librarian of the Year, Michigan Library Association
Bettina Meyer
Assistant Dean for Resources, Western Michigan University Libraries
Bettina Meyer is known for her ability to blend traditional roles with forward thinking; for focusing on the end user and for embracing new technologies to enhance accessibility. She has been a driving force behind advances in distance eduction, consortia purchasing, and library cooperation in Michigan and beyond. (MLA 2006 Conference book)
2005 Walter Kaiser Award, Michigan Library Association, Co-Winner
Ann Walaskay
Librarian, Oakland Community College/Oak Ridge Campus
Awarded with Sandy McCarthy for their shared efforts to provide enhanced services to more than 380,000 community college students through a collaborative virtual reference service between 17 participating colleges.
2005 Walter Kaiser Award, Michigan Library Association, Co-Winner
Sandy McCarthy
Librarian, Washtenaw Community College
Awarded with Ann Walaskay for their shared efforts to provide enhanced services to more than 380,000 community college students through a collaborative virtual reference service between seventeen participating colleges.
2004 ALA/Association of College Research Libraries: Significant Achievement in Women's Studies Librarianiship
Donna Roe
Head of Cataloging and Database Management, University of Detroit Mercy
Grant for excellence in providing a model for research, training, and scholarship in library services to Women's Studies at the University of Detroit Mercy.
2004 Loleta D. Fyan Award, Michigan Library Association
Adrienne Lim
Librarian, Wayne State University
Awarded for her leadership of WSU's Digital Library Services Unit.
2002 Life Membership, Michigan Library Association
Jean Houghton
Director, Melvin J. Zahnow Library, Saginaw Valley State University
Jean Houghton is honored for providing statewide leadership in MLA, MLC and MALC, as well as for her strong leadership at SVSU in guiding the campus to adopt emerging new technologies in libraries and in the campus-wide teaching and learning environment. Jean has provided library leadership at three institutions. During each of the positions she shared her expertise willingly, developed librarians and staff, and empowered employees to make decisions. She is knowledgeable in librarianship and exemplifies strong but gentle leadership. One example of Jean's contribution to our profession was her tireless work in forming and nurturing the Michigan Academic Library Council. Jean served as the first Chair of this organization upon its creation in November of 1999. (Quoted from Elaine K. Didier's letter dated October 10, 2002 to Jean Houghton informing Jean of the honor)
2002 Librarian of the Year, Michigan Library Association
Colleen Hyslop
Associate Director for Systems and Technical Services, Michigan State University Libraries
Librarian of the Year Colleen Hyslop has worked at Michigan State University since 1978 serving the needs of the university as well as striving to improve the Michigan library community through committee work, grant writing and community service. She served as MLA president in 1988-89 and as treasurer of the Michigan Library Consortium in 1998-2000. Most recently, Hyslop is the principal author and project administrator for the InMICH pilot project. She also served as co-chair of the ATLAS Resource Sharing Committee. Internationally, Hyslop has been elected to the executive council of the prestigious Program for Cooperative Cataloging. (Quoted from MLA Michigan Libraries, Vol 67, No. 5, September/October 2002)
2001 Lifetime Achievement Award, Michigan Library Association
Margaret E. Auer
Dean, University Libraries/Instructional Design Studio, University of Detroit Mercy
Auer was recognized for her continuing service to the library community, her thirty straight years of serving on an MLA committee, board, or task force, her contributions to DALNET, the Michigan Library Consortium, and her efforts in resource sharing locally, regionally, and nationally. In her acceptance, Auer said, "I don't think about how much I've given, but about how much I've taken. This profession has been wonderful to me."
2000 Award of Excellence, Michigan Library Association
Linda K. Linklater
Instructional Media Coordinator, Van Wylen Library, Hope College
Linda is recognized as a courteous, conscientious library staff member who assists and promotes libraries in all aspects of her work, going the extra mile to provide superior library service. She demonstrates a love of learning and teaching with a respect for her learner. She is known for her patient attention to detail, sensitive rapport with library users and an ability to remain on the cutting edge of technology. She worked closely with the College's Education Department, being instrumental in developing a technologically enriched teacher education program, including the design and facilitation of the curriculum. Linda has fostered cooperation and a true partnership between the academic program and the College library. (Quoted from the Michigan Librarian, Vol 66, No. 5, September/October 2000)