Maureen Dunne
Head of Circulation Services
Prospect Heights Public Library District

2010 Award Winners

One of the highlights of Reaching Forward’s 20^th Anniversary was presenting two special awards for Library Assistants.

The Robert P. Doyle Award was presented to Jan Adamczyk, Slavic Library, University of Illinois.  Jan, like many Library Assistants, wears two hats: He works a very busy Reference Desk at the Slavic Reference Service in the mornings and then spends the afternoons in cataloging, where he mentioned he gets to take a breath!  Jan’s nomination included the high praise of his manager for “his willingness to take on any task that needs attention. He is not only an asset to the unit; he is a resource for scholars who visit our institution and to catalogers at various libraries.”  Jan said that he was “pleased, surprised, and humbled.”  He has also states that “The award, in the meantime has… taken on a life of its own.  I have received an avalanche of congratulatory emails from UIUC librarians and staff.”  This award, named in honor of Bob Doyle, ILA Executive Director, earns Jan a one year personal membership in ILA and free registration to the ILA Conference in September as well as paid expenses up to $800.00

The Oberman-Rich Award was presented to Ann Kleinschmidt of Prospect Heights Public Library, and Char Vice and Lawrence Bullman of Warren-Newport Library.  This award recognizes Library Assistants who have gone above and beyond to support and lead in their libraries and in the library world at large.  Each was nominated for willingness to take risks, for saying yes to new challenges, for extending themselves for their co-workers, and for the good of their libraries.  The recipients of the Oberman-Rich Award, so named for Co-Chairs, Tobi Oberman and Tom Rich, each receive a free registration to the 2011 Reaching Forward Conference and up to $50.00 in paid expenses. Ann said, “I feel honored to have received the award. I am the same person I was before I got the award but a little more confident!”  Lawrence stated “I am grateful and I am fortunate to have had a unique opportunity to assist a fellow staff member.” Char Vice, Shelving Supervisor, was “deeply honored and truly touched by receiving this (award)”

The Awards Committee members felt it was very fulfilling and were so pleased to share in our recipients’ surprise and joy as they learned they had been recognized and nominated by their managers and had actually won!

For every winner of an award there are many unsung heroes who could and should be spotlighted.  Nominations for the 2011 Doyle Award and Oberman-Rich Award can be sent beginning now through the deadline of March 31, 2011 to Maureen Dunne, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at www.reachingforward.org.

From left: Ann Kleinschmidt, Jan Adamczyk, Lawrence Bullman, Paula Penna, Char Vice, and Maureen Dunne