Magarrell Wins Benton Service Award
Kathy Magarrell is the fourth recipient of the Arthur Benton Excellence in Reference Services Professional Development Award. This award is given biennially to a University Libraries’ professional staff member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment in providing reference service for the university community. The honor includes a $1,000 stipend to be used for professional development activities related to the advancement of reference services.
“Kathy led the way in producing outstanding resource materials and then teaching students how to use them,” says Teresa Mangum, Associate Professor of English and International Programs. “I have been in awe of her thorough knowledge of resources, her imaginative approaches to searching materials across disciplinary boundaries, and her helpfulness and enthusiasm, no matter how unique the needs of the class are.”
Kathleen Diffley, Associate Professor of English echoes those sentiments, “Kathy has been my library partner in teaching for years and continues to do yeoman service in regard to helping students utilize resources. I really and truly couldn’t teach without her.”
Jane Desmond, Associate Dean of International Programs and Associate Professor of American Studies and Kim Marra, Associate Professor of Theatre and American Studies also noted that in addition to her work as a teaching partner, Kathy has been invaluable in locating materials for their own research.
“Like many scholars at this University, most of us have eclectic interests that cross disciplinary boundaries,” says Desmond. “While we’re aware of resources – indexes, databases and online texts – in our own fields, we rely on Kathy’s far more extensive knowledge when we stray into other disciplinary areas.”
The University Libraries will have a special celebration this Friday, September 22 at 3:00 p.m. in the North Lobby of the Main Library to honor Kathy as the most recent award winner. Kathy joins Kären Mason, Curator of the Iowa Women’s Archives, Dave Martin, Head Business Librarian, and John Schacht, Reference Librarian, as recipients of this award.
