Annual employee awards honor Library staff – UNC University Libraries (2024)

Aleah Howell, Creative Lead for Library Communications

“It’s nearly impossible to step into a library building on campus – and it is entirely impossible to visit the Library’s online spaces – without experiencing the impact of Aleah’s work,” wrote nominators from the Library Communications team.

As creative lead for Library Communications since 2017, Howell has led the University Libraries in building a consistent, professional visually communicative presence, and in meeting the visual communications needs of clients across the organization. She led development of the Library’s visual brand, which guides the design of signage, publications, and more across the Libraries. Howell also designs the Libaries’ magazine, Windows, and manages the Library’s video and photography operations.

“When you see a Library flier or poster, when you receive an invitation to a Library event, when you see something on the Library’s digital screens, when you visit our website, when you get swag with the Library logo carefully placed, when you receive a Library newsletter – these are all items Aleah has designed or produced, or whose development she has directed and approved.”

Nominators also cited Howell’s outstanding customer service as “a great collaborative partner,” whose drive to elevate the work of her colleagues and the University Libraries is a constant priority; her commitment to accessible design; and the numerous leadership responsibilities she has volunteered for in the department, across the organization and around the University.

Award for Leadership

Rebecca Carlson, Health Sciences Library Librarian and Liaison to the School of Pharmacy

“Rebecca’s strength as a leader is demonstrated across multiple fronts, including her willingness to mentor her colleagues, direct reports, and HSL graduate assistants,” wrote Interim Associate University Librarian Michelle Cawley and Head of Clinical and Statewide Engagement Sarah Wright. “Her leadership as a mentor is highly valued.

Since 2020, Carlson has been a peer mentor for all new Health Science Library (HSL) liaison librarians, first meeting with them one-on-one and then serving as an ongoing point of contact once they are established. Carlson served as one of the original directors for the Interprofessional Education and Practice (IPEP) office and continues to serve as an advisor and faculty mentor for students competing in IPEP competitions and to develop programs for IPEP’s Distinguished Scholars program. She developed and leads HSL’s Systematic Review Summer Series, one of the library’s most in-demand services. In 2022, Carlson led a research project demonstrating the impact of librarians on Pharmacy research.

“As a liaison, Rebecca is skilled, enthusiastic and has a strong love for learning, and these traits are evident in her leadership style as well,” says Karen Grigg, health sciences librarian for collections and instruction. “She makes us feel valued and supported by active listening and advocating for us, and this leads to a positive workplace climate and a feeling that we have a strong Public Health team.”

Jackie Dean, Head of Archival Processing

Award for Customer Service

“I started working at UNC SILS in August 2022 and was nervous about how I would build partnerships with the Libraries,” wrote Elliot Kuecker, teaching assistant professor at the School of Information and Library Science. “So much of this anxiety vanished because of Jackie Dean.”

Dean reached out to Kuecker after hearing that he was a new faculty member teaching about archival work, giving him a tour of Wilson Library, introducing him to library staff and offering to help his students. They have collaborated since then, with Dean and her team providing hands-on educational experiences for Kuecker’s classes and helping arrange practicum experiences for SILS students. Because of Dean’s efforts, SILS students are more interested in archival work and better prepared when they go on the job market, writes Kuecker. He also notes that Dean’s staff have been instrumental in helping him find resources for his own research.

“I wanted to nominate Jackie for this award because I do not think that it is always intuitive that technical processing units have anything to do with ‘customer service,’ wrote Kuecker. “When they do, they have incredible impact on bringing about the kinds of sensibilities we all want in libraries and archives, which is the spirit of collaboration, kindness toward new and training professionals, a welcome attitude toward experimenting with different job tasks and a lifting of the veil on the kinds of things that go on in archival processing.”

Wendy Isicson, Metadata Projects Coordinator

Award for Inclusive Excellence and Innovation & Problem Solving

“Wendy has demonstrated exceptional commitment to implementing DEIA values that are making a significant contribution to the cataloging of LGBTQIA+ materials not only within University Libraries but also beyond UNC,” wrote nominators from the Library’s research and description management (RDM) and research and instructional services departments.

The award recognizes Isicson for making it easier for catalogers to use nuanced terminology in records for LGBTQIA+ materials. She created a computer script that makes it simpler to add subject and genre headings from the “hom*osaurus Thesaurus,” an international set of terms used to identify LGBTQI+ materials more precisely. Although she created the macro to meet the needs of catalogers at Carolina, Isicson made it available for any library that contributes to WorldCat, the world’s largest library catalog.

Responses to the macro have been overwhelmingly positive. “I just installed it, and it’s amazing,” one non-UNC cataloger wrote after using the macro for the first time. “It will save time and effort of going back and forth to the hom*osaurus site and help out other non-LGBTQ+ catalogers that might otherwise feel a little overwhelmed for choice.”

Congratulations, Aleah, Rebecca, Jackie and Wendy!