Food, Fun, and Family

Employees from around the UTA Libraries came together for a time to enjoy good food, fellowship, and games as a part of the annual Summer Picnic on Wednesday, July 27. While the weather outside was in the triple digits, the day's activities were moved indoors to beat the heat.  

The Summer Picnic was one of many activities hosted by the library's Staff Engagement and Appreciation Committee. The SEAC committee fosters an environment of staff engagement and community building to support social activities, health and wellness, and peer recognition.  

 Vanessa Pham, Serials Library Specialist and SEAC Chair, stated it was great to see a large turnout of staff members and their families enjoying time together.  

 "Today, we have our summer picnic that happens every summer. It is usually outdoors, but the Texas weather is too hot right now," Vanessa said. "We decided to have it indoors with indoor-friendly games. That way, our staff can come together for the summer to enjoy food, bring their immediate family, and just some fun and games." 

Venessa shared that it is essential to recognize the library staff's hard work daily and events like this accomplish that goal. The picnic gave employees time to decompress, relax, visit colleagues from other departments, and have fun. 

The meal in the sixth-floor atrium sparked conversations between employees on topics such as family, sports, entertainment, and the day's news. 

Rebecca Bichel, Dean of Libraries, shared Vanessa's feelings about the importance of events like this because they let people know they are valued, appreciated, and loved. As people waited in line for their meal, Rebecca took time to visit with each one to get to know them and express her thanks for the job they do. 

"I just wanted the opportunity to walk through and visit with people. I wanted to send the message that this isn't about getting away from work; I don't want people to feel like they should stay at their desks and work," Rebecca said. "I want them to feel that this is as important as anything sitting on their desk, and we are really grateful to have them here." 

People interested in getting involved with the Staff Engagement and Appreciation Committee can go online to https://libraries.uta.edu/about/committees/staff-engagement-appreciation-committee.