April 14, 2022
Celebrating Nominees for the Distinguished Librarian Award
We wish to congratulate the ten librarians who were nominated for the Distinguished Librarian Award (DLA). Nominees come from all three UW campuses. Five were nominated in 2021 and five remained in the pool from their nomination in previous years. The outstanding work and contributions reflect the many ways librarians engage with teaching, research, and the wider community.
The DLA began in 2008 as an award given to a librarian whose contributions advance the mission of the Libraries and the University. The award recognizes “excellence in librarianship, especially as it benefits the academic community through innovative approaches to professional practice, research, and/or teaching and learning.” The librarian also demonstrates “creativity, leadership, service, scholarship, and demonstration of the University of Washington values of integrity, diversity, excellence, collaboration, innovation and respect.” Since it began, 14 librarians have received the DLA.
Prior to the pandemic, the Libraries recognized all of the nominees at a “Celebrating Distinction” reception, usually held in February. Because of the challenges of organizing in-person events, the Distinguished Librarian Award Selection Committee has chosen to experiment with a new way of publicly-recognizing our colleagues. Committee members have written brief profiles of each nominated librarian, drawing on materials from their nomination files. During a time when library workers of all kinds have stretched services, programs, and projects far beyond the physical walls of the Libraries, we believe it is important to make these outstanding contributions visible.
Serving on the DLA Selection Committee is a rewarding opportunity to get a view of the breadth and quality of the work of UW librarians. I would like to thank all those who served on the committee this year for contributing their perspectives and creativity in writing the profiles. The committee included:
Jessica Albano, Head, Government Publications, Maps, Microforms & Newspapers, Reference & Research Services
P.V. “Sundar” Balakrishnan, Professor, UW Bothell School of Business / Faculty Council on University Libraries
Conor Casey, Head, Labor Archives of Washington, Special Collections
Electra Enslow, Director, Clinical Research and Data Services, Health Sciences Library
Nia Lam, Research & Instruction / Media Studies Librarian, UW Bothell/Cascadia Campus Library
Deb Raftus, Romance Languages & Literatures Librarian/Arts & Humanities Liaison Team Leader, Reference & Research Services
Andrew Weaver, Media Preservation Librarian, Preservation
Justin Wadland, Head, Digital Scholarship, UW Tacoma Library (Chair)
