News and Events

Danuta A. Nitecki poses with recipients Bill Paterson, Jenny James Lee and Kenneth Fisher

The Libraries’ recognized four staff members and one student worker on Thursday, May 10th at the third annual Library Celebration Awards. Approximately 40 guests attended the breakfast celebration at Drexel’s Library Learning Terrace.

The Library Celebration Awards were established in 2010 to recognize individuals or teams who have advanced the values of the Libraries through exceptional accomplishments. In addition to Library staff, a student worker is also recognized for his/her dedication to the Libraries by receiving the Jane Bryan Student Worker Award. The Libraries were once again pleased to welcome Jim and Thomas Bryan, who joined in recognizing the student contribution to the Libraries.

The 2012 awards recognized:

Kelley Cotter, circulation clerk at Queen Lane, for her successful outreach efforts, which were well illustrated by two library related ads that she created. One ad, aimed at first year medical students, featured skulls available to borrow at the circulation desk. This ad creatively incorporated a historic photo of the Medical College of Philadelphia medical students clowning around as they studied skulls and bones. The other ad, also using eye-catching graphics, was timed for the senior medical students’ return to campus for Match Day. It thanked the senior class for donating books to the library.  As noted in a recommendation for the award, Kelley’s creative ideas have been a great way to put the library and its resources before a large audience.

Described as one of the major “go-to” people within the workplace, Kenneth Fisher, technical services assistant at W. W. Hagerty Library, demonstrates collaboration and cooperation among staff. Kenneth illustrates this quality through his tireless effort and enthusiasm, no matter where he may find himself – with service assignments in Acquisition, Hagerty Circulation, ILL or the Reference Desk.  Kenneth is able to bring his expertise in each of these different areas where he works to create a synergy. This year, he is recognized for the workflow improvements he triggered in Access Services. In many ways, he is a bridge between departments and does a great deal to enhance inner-department cooperation.  Furthermore, he makes life efficient and easier for his fellow staff members and patrons by identifying opportunities for improvements.

Jenny James Lee, marketing & events associate, is celebrated not for simply doing her job to enhance the Libraries services and outreach activities through communications, but for the resulting collaboration and cooperation among library staff and efficient and innovative contributions she has made to the Libraries.  This year, she has expanded and fine-tuned communications both within the Libraries and externally to the Drexel community.  Jenny created In Circulation, the Libraries’ monthly e-newsletter and edited and designed the Libraries’ first published annual report.  She applied innovative ideas to create festive but important connections for the Libraries through the opening of the Library Learning Terrace and the newly introduced ScholarSip series.  Jenny is open, inclusive, engaged and always thinking of new ways to communicate the good work the Libraries does with friends, donors and alumni and exemplifies how a positive and productive library team member adds to our collaborative environment.

Bill Paterson, electronic resources assistant, is being honored for efficiencies in operations and the cooperation among Drexel Libraries staff that he stimulates.  He impressed the selection committee by how colleagues from outside his immediate work unit nominated Bill and sent reference support mail on his behalf. Bill’s work has allowed others to respond more quickly to patron needs.  In order to complete his work and provide exceptional services, Bill also collaborates effectively with the Libraries’ systems staff.  His work raises the quality of service provided by the Libraries, increases the efficiency of e-resources operations and exemplifies cooperation among Drexel Libraries staff.

Ash Whisnant, recipient of the 2012 Jane Bryan Student Worker Award, has been a friendly and knowledgeable presence at Hahnemann Library's Circulation Desk. The staff was instantly struck and impressed with Ash's professionalism, maturity and work ethic. Though a busy medical student with numerous responsibilities, she is reliable and is eager to pick up additional shifts whenever coverage is needed. She is an excellent communicator who asks questions about library policies and procedures so that she can better serve the library's patrons. Ash excels at making library patrons feel comfortable and welcomed. She believes in the mission of the library and this attitude motivates the exemplary work she supplies. Ash is truly a champion of the Drexel University students and believes they should receive outstanding service and have access to high-quality resources. For example, she worked a 12-hour shift on Martin Luther King holiday to ensure that the library would stay open and not close early.

Images from the 2012 celebration are available online as well as a recording of the celebration. For more information about the Library Celebration Awards or the recipients, please contact Jenny James Lee at 215-571-4095 or jaj92@drexel.edu.