April 24, 2008
Mudrock named Distinguished Librarian
Theresa Mudrock, the history librarian in the Reference & Research Services Division of UW Libraries, is the recipient of the first-ever Distinguished Librarian Award. She was the creator of the exhibit, Interrupted Lives, which dealt with Japanese American students at the University during World War II. It was on display in Suzzallo earlier this year and can still be seen on the Web <a href=http://www.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/harmony/interrupted_lives/index.shtml>here</a>.
Because the award is new this year and the selection committee got a late start, Mudrock was not chosen in time for her name to be announced with other Universitywide award recipients. She will, however, be honored along with the others at the annual Recognition Ceremony, set for 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12.
The creation of the Distinguished Librarian Award was one of several initiatives the UW Libraries has undertaken to celebrate the achievements of its staff, said Paula Walker, who chaired the selection committee.
“Our strategic plan, Vision 2010, says we want to create a workplace of choice which will inspire and reward risk taking, innovation and self-renewal among our staff,” she said. “We also were interested in raising awareness across campus of the contributions librarians make.”
Officially, the award “recognizes excellence in librarianship, especially as it benefits the academic community through teaching, research, learning, and innovative approaches to practice. Additional factors include creativity, innovation, leadership, enthusiasm, service, and scholarship.”
Walker said there were more than 20 nominations for the award, many of them coming from the faculty and graduate students the librarians serve.
Mudrock will be profiled along with other award recipients in University Week’s annual awards issue, which will be published June 5.
