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Shank honored with University Libraries Award

Jun 09, 2017 • by Penn State Berks
John Shank receives University Libraries Award

John Shank, Head Librarian at Penn State Berks, was recently honored with the University Libraries Award at a ceremony on Thursday, May 11, 2017, in Foster Auditorium at Penn State University Park campus.

The University Libraries Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the University Libraries, is based on professional contributions that affect the operations of the libraries, elevate respect among the University for the Libraries, reflect achievement in librarianship, and demonstrate leadership and innovation.

One of the first instructional design librarians in the United States, Shank is the founding director of The Center for Learning and Teaching at Penn State Berks. Instrumental in developing the Berks Educational Technology Grant Curriculum Program in 2002, he has directed more than 90 grant projects awarded to 60 faculty members. This program initially impacted more than 100 courses and more than 3,500 students.

Some of his contributions to Penn State Berks and the field of library science were included in his nomination letter from Nancy Dewald, reference librarian at Penn State Berks. The creation of the Media Commons and Collaborations Commons in the Thun Library, career-building opportunities for students interested in library science, and the co-founding of the Blended Librarian online community to help other institutions develop instructional design librarian positions are just a few of Shank’s contributions that have impacted students, faculty and the world.

The Penn State University Libraries honored four additional staff members for their outstanding contributions toward the success of Libraries’ operations, diversity and inclusion, and innovation. The award recipients include Ann Thompson, information resources and services supervisor/manager for the Physical and Mathematical Sciences (PAMS) Library; Wendy Stodart, human resources generalist; Jacqueline Peagler, monographs cataloger and training coordinator, Cataloging and Metadata Services; and Karla Schmit, interim head, Education and Behavioral Sciences Library, and assistant director of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book.

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