Each year, the employees of the library have the opportunity to recognize the excellence of their coworkers by nominating them for a staff award.
The three award categories are:
- Robert E. Kennedy Staff Award for Individual Excellence
- Good Humor Award
- Outstanding Achievement by a Team Award
Robert E. Kennedy Staff Award for Individual Excellence
The Robert E. Kennedy Staff Award for Individual Excellence is presented to a staff person who has made outstanding contributions toward fulfilling the Library’s institutional purpose or toward achieving a strategic goal. Award recipients have been nominated and selected by their peers for demonstrating their support or service provided to Kennedy Library goes beyond their assigned duties. Their meritorious service inspires others to provide the same level of service of a willingness to go the “extra mile” in service to patrons, faculty, students or co-workers.
Awardees have collaborated positively and effectively with others; contributed innovative or creative ideas that have improved the efficiency, productivity, or quality of work in the library; maintain excellent relations with others; and maintain a consistent record of outstanding performance.
Katherine O’Clair, Academic Services
Katherine is professional, welcoming, helpful, and efficient in her position as CAFES Librarian, and she has taken on so many extras to enrich the library. For example, after she became a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, she conducted workshops to help library staff realize and enhance their strengths, and offers private consultations as well. She participated and chaired on multiple search committees, including chairing last year’s Consultative Committee for the library Dean recruitment.
With all of her hard work, energy, and organizational skills, it is no surprise that she was chosen to fill the newly created role of Academic Services Department Head. Katherine is not just busy contributing to the well-functioning of the library, she currently is chair of the Campus Parking and Transportation Advisory Committee. Next year, she will be the SLAC faculty advisor. She contributes so much to the library and Cal Poly as a whole.
Year |
Recipient |
Department |
| 2018-19 | Katherine O’Clair | Academic Services |
| 2017-18 | Chris Lee | Information Resources & Resource Sharing |
| 2016-17 | Cathe Olson | Access Services |
| 2015-16 | Sarah Sayeed | Library Information Technology |
| 2014-15 | Conny Liegl | Communications and Special Initiatives |
| 2013-14 | Laura Sorvetti Nikki DeMoville |
Special Collections & Archives Information Resources & Resource Sharing |
| 2012-13 | Shelly Lucas | Administrative Services |
| 2011-12 | Carl Hunt | Library Information Technology |
| 2010-11 | n/a | n/a |
| 2009-10 | Douglas Gates | Reference |
| 2008-09 | Karen Beaton | Acquisitions |
| 2007-08 | Tommy DeMoville | Library Information Technology |
| 2006-07 | Lynda Alamo | Administration |
| 2005-06 | Catherine Trujillo | Special Collections |
| 2004-05 | Fran Edwards | Administration |
Good Humor Award
Robert E. Kennedy Library recognizes staff members, who, with their unshakable good humor, consistently and reliably lighten the mood, defuse conflicts, and make the library a more fun place to work.
Award recipients make us laugh, but more than that they use humor to get through challenging situations or to make others feel more comfortable; provide a morale boost, a big smile, a helping hand, an optimistic outlook; they can laugh at themselves, and they create a positive environment.
Holly Richmond, Information Resources & Resource Sharing
Holly improves morale in fun ways. She is whimsical and loves to participate. She always joins in on theme days with fun clothes, hats, and costumes. She will bring more than her share to potlucks and special day celebrations. Everyone in Information Resources and Resource Sharing knows about her donut giving spirit.
She is seen as a friend and mentor by her colleagues, and genuinely cares about the wellbeing of her student employees. Holly consistently praises her coworkers and gives them credit for achievements. She is always happy to help staff members and patrons with her patient, welcoming manner.
Year |
Recipient |
Department |
| 2018-19 | Holly Richmond | Information Resources & Resource Sharing |
| 2017-18 | Jeremy Hobbs | Information Resources & Resource Sharing |
| 2016-17 | Linda Daguerre | Access Services |
| 2015-16 | Carole Chapman | Information Resources & Resource Sharing |
| 2014-15 | Michele Wyngard | Special Collections & Archives |
| 2013-14 | Jane Worthy | Library Information Technology |
| 2012-13 | Patrick Kammermeyer | Library Information Technology |
| 2011-12 | Brett Bodemer | Academic Services |
| 2010-11 | n/a | n/a |
| 2009-10 | Michael Price | Library Information Technology |
| 2008-09 | Jeanine Scaramozzino | Academic Services |
| 2007-08 | Marya Figueroa | Library Information Technology |
| 2006-07 | Greg Wilson | Library Information Technology |
| 2005-06 | Denise Wessels | Administration |
| 2004-05 | Johanna Brown | Collection Development |
Outstanding Achievement by a Team Award
Robert E. Kennedy Library recognizes team efforts in fulfilling the library’s mission or in achieving its strategic goals. The award is presented to a group that has meritoriously completed a special project, resolved a workflow problem, or responded to a particular library need in the last year.
Team award recipients have demonstrated a willingness and ability to collaborate with their team members and with others to solve a problem, complete a project, and develop a work plan; the team has demonstrated creativity and innovation in the achievement of results and have shown exemplary performance.
Sunshine Committee: Linda Daguerre, Katy Fluitt, Tricia Kobielusz, Ashley Laguna, Mike Price
The Sunshine Committee has organized such a wide variety of creative, fun and uplifting activities this year. Not only are these activities a fun break for staff, but they have provided opportunities to interact and get to know library staff members in other departments. They were so thoughtful about adding extra touches like trophies as awards for contests and personal delivery of burritos.
The work over the past year of this team to not only put on events that improve staff morale but also engage our thinking around diversity, inclusivity, and equity has been impressive. This is just a start to their work, but the showcasing of individual hobbies and interests as staff engagement events have been very positive. The team also took initiative to find ways to create opportunities to show gratitude to colleagues which was one of the most well-received events of the year.
| Year | Team | Team Members |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | Sunshine Committee | Linda Daguerre Katy Fluitt Tricia Kobielusz Ashley Laguna Mike Price |
| 2017-18 | Dean of Library Consultative Search Committee | Mark Bieraugel Katherine O’Clair Cathe Olson Jeannine Scaramozzino Jesse Vestermark |
| 2016-17 | Access Services | Cathe Olson Judy Drake Jia-Jia Wong Katy Fluitt Linda Daguerre Margaret Adeogun |
| 2015-16 | CPIG (Cal Poly ULMS Implementation Team) | Carole Chapman Nikki DeMoville Sheree Fu Jeremy Hobbs Chris Lee Cyndee McLin Cathe Olson Mike Price |
| 2014-15 | EGG (Educated Guess Group) | Mark Bieraugel Andrew Bui Nikki DeMoville Jessica Holada Patrick Kammermeyer Karen Lauritsen Cheryl May |
| 2013-14 | Stressbusters | Chris Lee Conny Liegl Cyndee McLin Kaila Bussert Katherine O’Clair |
| 2012-13 | Banned Books Week | Patrick Kammermeyer Karen Lauritsen Conny Liegl Kristen Thorp Michele Wyngard |
| 2011-12 | Science Cafe – DIY Physical Computing at Play Team | Carl Hunt Patrick Kammermeyer Dale Kohler Karen Lauritsen Jane Worthy |
| 2010-11 | n/a | n/a |
| 2009-10 | Rapid ILL Team | Nikki Demoville Anna Gold Linda Hauck Stephanie Lafferty Michael Price Holly Richmond Janice Stone |
| 2008-09 | Library Faculty | Navjit Brar Lynne Gamble Wayne Montgomery Marisa Ramirez Jeanine Scaramozzino Frank Vuotto |
| 2007-08 | Moving & Shifting Team | Sharon Andresen Gayle Chipman Marya Figueroa Patricia Haberkern Joan Kennedy Cynthia McLin Carol Schuldt Jia-Xun Wong |
| 2006-07 | Birthday Fairies | Judy Drake Joan Kennedy |
| 2005-06 | Dean Selection Committee | Linda Alamo Navjit Brar Johanna Brown Judy Drake Sharon Fujitani Nancy Loe Catherine Trujillo Frank Vuotto |
| 2004-05 | Rise Team | Mary Ellen Baker Nicolette Bowen Gayle Chipman Sharon Fujitani Douglas Gates Carole Geile Patricia Haberkern Joan Kennedy Joan Kunkler Cathleen Matthews Cynthia McLin Wayne Montgomery Carol Schuldt Jia-Xun Wong |