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LIBRARY MOSAICS/COLT ANNUAL AWARDS
2001 OUTSTANDING SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR AWARD
Rita Gibson
The recipient of Library Mosaics' and the Council on Library/Media Technicians' 2001 award for Outstanding Support Staff is Rita Gibson, access services technician (circulation supervisor) at the State Law Library of Montana, Helena, Montana. In addition to her work with the State Law Library, Gibson has worked in both technical and public services divisions of eight different academic, special and public libraries in Montana and Texas.
Ms. Gibson is active in her state library association and is the co-founder of the Montana Library Association's paraprofessional interest group, the Montana Library Paraprofessionals. She is the current chairperson of the Helena chapter of the Montana Library Paraprofessionals and the Montana Library Paraprofessionals of the Montana Library Association. Gibson has also been active in organizing workshops and panel discussions, and in 1998 served as paraprofessional representative at the Montana Library Education Summit, called by the state librarian.
As well as chairing the Montana Library Paraprofessionals, she is currently developing a mentoring proposal for the Montana Library Association, investigating ways to provide distance education and continuing education opportunities for Montana's rural library support staff, and is researching and proposing a "Paraprofessional of the Year" award for the Montana Library Association.
Nationally, Ms. Gibson has compiled bibliographies on library support staff issues which she continues to update and expand, and which can be found on the COLT home page.
For her efforts in promoting and organizing support staff, she has been presented with the 2001 Support Staff Award.
Rita Gibson will be featured in the May/June issue of Library Mosaics and will be recognized at the annual banquet of the Council on Library/Media Technicians conference, San Francisco, California, June 15, 2001. She will also receive a cash prize and a plaque describing her achievements.
2001 OUTSTANDING SUPPORTER OF SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sue Mahmoodi
The winner of Library Mosaics' and the Council on Library/Media Technicians' 2001 award for Outstanding Supporter of Support Staff is Sue Mahmoodi, continuing education and library research specialist for the Minnesota Minnesota Department of Children Family and Learning, Library Development and Services.
Ms. Mahmoodi was selected for her dedication and tireless efforts in the development of continuing education opportunities for library support staff throughout the state of Minnesota.
After beginning her career as a paraprofessional, Mahmoodi went on to obtain a Ph.D in library science. For over 30 years she has devoted herself to library work and to the advancement of library paraprofessionals.
Ms. Mahmoodi has been instrumental in developing and providing successful continuing education efforts such as BranchOut, Soaring to Excellence (assuring available sites throughout the state and training the local presenters) and Minnesota Voluntary Certification.
Additionally, she was successful in getting two other statewide programs off the ground Minnesota Opportunities for Reference Excellence (MORE) and Minnesota Opportunities for Technical Services Excellence (MOTSE). Ms. Mahmoodi has provided education for public library trustees around the state and has worked with other continuing education specialists at the state agency level from other states as well.
For her efforts in supporting and encouraging support staff, she has been presented with the 2001 Outstanding Supporter of Support Staff award.
Sue Mahmoodi will be featured in the May/June issue of Library Mosaics and will be recognized at the annual banquet of the council on Library/Media Technicians, San Francisco, California, June 15, 2001. She will also receive a cash prize and a plaque describing her achievements.
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