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The Awards Program

Awards: Hidden Heroes | Customer Commitment | Bright Idea | Applause | Outstanding Student Assistant | STAR

The Hidden Heroes Award

Purpose:

Given throughout the year, the Hidden Heroes Award recognizes a library staff member for exemplary work behind the scenes to support her or his colleagues.

Eligibility:

• All library staff except the Dean, Associate Director, and library student assistants
• Recipients must be employed when the award is given

Criteria:

• The activity being recognized must have been performed in a non-public service and/or a support role
• The outcome of the activity must have provided a demonstrable and noteworthy benefit for a UTA Libraries program, process, or service

Nominations:

• Any library staff member can nominate another library staff member
• A library staff member can nominate him/herself
• Deadline for submitting a nomination is the first day of the month in which the award is to be made

Award:

• Public announcement of the award, including the activity for which the award was given, at a library staff meeting, in the library staff newsletter, on the ERC web site and any other appropriate forum
• A letter of commendation signed by the Dean of Libraries, a copy of which is added to the winner’s library personnel file
• A Hidden Heroes Award pin
• A photographic portrait taken by a UTA Publications Department photographer, a copy of which will be displayed on the first floor with a description of the activity for with the award was given

The Customer Commitment Award

Purpose:

Given throughout the year, the Customer Commitment Award recognizes a library staff member for great customer service, and who in doing so, becomes an ambassador for UTA.

Eligibility:

• All library staff except the Dean, Associate Director, and library student assistants
• Recipients must be employed when the award is given

Criteria:

• The activity being recognized must have been performed in a direct customer service role
• For this award, a "customer" is a member of the greater UTA Community (UTA students, faculty, and staff; community members not affiliated with UTA)
• For this award, a fellow UTA Libraries staff member is NOT considered a "customer". A UTA Libraries student assistant is considered a "customer" only of they were in a non-worker role when they benefited from the activity nominated for award (that is, this award recognizes customer service for external customers)
• The outcome of the activity must have been demonstrable excellent customer service, resulting in a notably happy and/or satisfied and/or benefited external customer

Nominations:

• Any library staff member can nominate another library staff member
• A library staff member can nominate him/herself
• Deadline for submitting a nomination is the first day of the month in which the award is to be made

Award:

• Public announcement of the award, including the activity for which the award was given, at a library staff meeting, in the library staff newsletter, on the ERC web site and any other appropriate forum
• A letter of commendation signed by the Dean of Libraries, a copy of which is added to the winner’s library personnel file
• A Customer Commitment Award pin
• A photographic portrait taken by a UTA Publications Department photographer, a copy of which will be displayed on the first floor with a description of the activity for with the award was given

The Bright Idea Award

Purpose:

The Bright Idea Award recognizes a UTA Libraries staff member whose "Bright Idea" represents innovation and has resulted in enhanced service, enhanced efficiency of operations, or cost savings for the library. This award is given throughout the year at library staff meetings.

Eligibility:

• All library staff except the Dean, Associate Director, and library student assistants
• Recipients must be employed at the UTA Libraries at the time the award is given

Criteria:

• The "Bright Idea" must have resulted in enhanced service, enhanced efficiency of operations, or cost savings for the library
  • Enhanced service can include:
    • A public service activity or function that has become more effective, faster, or easier to use for library users
    • An internal library activity or function that has become more effective, faster, or easier to use for other library staff
  • Enhanced efficiency of operations can include:
    • An internal library staff process that has become faster to accomplish, easier to accomplish, more effective in the outcome of the process, less disruptive of associated processes, and which generally makes it easier / faster / more efficient for staff to do their jobs
  • Cost savings for the library includes a change in process or function that requires that the library spend less money to accomplish the same or a better result
• The "Bright Idea" must have been successfully implemented

Nominations:

• Any library staff member can nominate another library staff member
• A library staff member can nominate him/herself
• Deadline for submitting a nomination is the first day of the month in which the award is to be made

Award:

• Public announcement of the award, including the activity for which the award was given, at a library staff meeting, in the library staff newsletter, on the ERC web site and any other appropriate forum
• A letter of commendation signed by the Dean of Libraries, a copy of which is added to the winner’s library personnel file
• A Bright Idea Award pin
• A photographic portrait taken by a UTA Publications Department photographer, a copy of which will be displayed on the first floor of Central Library along with a description of the “Bright Idea” for which the award was given

The Applause Award

Purpose:

The Applause Award recognizes a UTA Libraries staff member or group of UTA Libraries staff members for especially effective or noteworthy performance of an activity, special project, outreach pursuit, or short-term group endeavor. This award is given throughout the year at library staff meetings.

Eligibility:

• All library staff except the Dean, Associate Director, and library student assistants
• Recipients must be employed at the UTA Libraries at the time the award is given

Criteria:

• Evidence of effective or noteworthy performance of an activity, project, outreach pursuit, or short-term group endeavor includes:
• A markedly positive effect on library users or UTA Libraries staff and/or a markedly improved opinion of the UTA Libraries by the campus or community
• Willingness of the staff member to see a need, make decisions, take action, and follow through to a successful conclusion
• A "short-term group endeavor" is an activity in which more than one person participates but for which a full "team" might not have developed, for example, due to the short duration of the project or the lack of a need for the development of team roles and team-building processes

Nominations:

• Any library staff member can nominate another library staff member
• A library staff member can nominate him/herself
• Deadline for submitting a nomination is the first day of the month in which the award is to be made

Award:

• Public announcement of the award, including the activity for which the award was given, at a library staff meeting, in the library staff newsletter, on the ERC web site and any other appropriate forum
• A letter of commendation signed by the Dean of Libraries, a copy of which is added to the winner’s library personnel file
• An Applause Award pin
• A photographic portrait taken by a UTA Publications Department photographer, a copy of which will be displayed on the first floor of Central Library along with a description of the activity for which the award was given

The Outstanding Student Assistant Award

Purpose:

The Outstanding Student Assistant Award recognizes the outstanding performance of a UTA Libraries student assistant. This award is given twice a year, at the December and April staff meetings.

Eligibility:

• All student assistants who have been employed continuously by the UTA Libraries for two long semesters or for the combination of one long semester and one summer session
  • For the December award, the following combinations constitute minimum requirements for length of employment at the UTA Libraries:
    • Hired within the first two weeks of the previous Spring Semester and rejoining the same Program Area within the first two weeks of the current Fall Semester, regardless of summer employment
    • Hired within the first week of the previous First Summer Session, remaining employed with the same Program Area through the Second Summer Session, and rejoining the same Program Area within the first two weeks of the current Fall Semester
  • For the April award, the following constitutes minimum requirements for length of employment at the UTA Libraries:
    • Hired within the first two weeks of the previous Fall Semester and rejoining the same Program Area within the first two weeks of the current Spring Semester
• Recipients must be employed at the UTA Libraries at the time the award is given

Criteria:

• Demonstrated excellence in dependability, accurate and timely performance of tasks
• Interest and dedication to their work and to the UTA Libraries
• Willingness to develop and use skills and creativity and to appropriately expand the limits of their tasks in order to enhance the effectiveness of their work

Nominations:

• Any UTA Libraries student supervisor can nominate student assistants who they personally supervise. The student supervisor’s Program Coordinator will be asked by the Employee Recognition Committee to provide written supportive statements to the nomination
• The deadline for making nominations will be December 1 for the December award and April 1 for the April award

Award:

• Public announcement of the award, including the activity for which the award was given, at the December or April library staff meeting, Spring Reception, in the library staff newsletter, on the ERC web site and any other appropriate forum
• A letter of commendation signed by the Dean of Libraries
• An Outstanding Student Assistant Award pin
• A gift certificate valued at an amount determined in consultation with the Dean of Libraries during the semester that the award is given
• A press release with photograph for The Shorthorn
• Inclusion of his/her name on the plaque of Outstanding Student Assistant Award winners that hangs in Central Library

The STAR Award

Purpose:

Presented annually at the Spring Reception, The STAR (Super Talent Appreciated and Recognized) Award recognizes outstanding achievement, performance, or service to the Libraries.

Eligibility:

• All library staff, except the Dean and Associate Director and members of the Employee Recognition Committee

The recipient must:

• have completed one year of employment in the UTA Libraries
• be employed in the Libraries when the award is given
• have not received the award the previous year

Criteria:

Nominees will be evaluated on one or more of the following criteria:

• Achievement on the job
• Excellence in job performance
• Service to the Libraries
• Bright ideas resulting in efficiency in operations or appreciable cost savings
• An activity, special project, or outreach pursuit which has been especially effective and/or noteworthy

Nominations:

Any employee of the Libraries, including an employee who may wish to nominate himself or herself, may make nominations.

Support:

The committee will seek supporting documentation based on the award criteria. This documentation shall include up to three letters from the nominee's supervisor, program coordinator, or other library employee who is knowledgeable of the nominee's contributions related to the criteria.

Award:

• A letter of commendation signed by the Dean of Libraries
• A copy of the recommendation to the Dean (which shall also be placed in the recipient's personnel file)
• Public announcement of the award in the library staff newsletter, on the ERC web site and any other appropriate forum
• A monetary award of $350.00 funded and presented by the Friends of the Libraries
• A STAR Award Plaque
• A press release with photograph for The Shorthorn
• Inclusion of his/her name on the plaque of Star Award winners that hangs in Central Library