Shapiro Library Staff Innovation Award Nomination Form

Have you been wowed by a Fondren Library staff member's innovative solutions to problems, exemplary service to the Rice community, can-do attitude, or all of the above? Here is your chance to honor them.

The Shapiro Library Staff Innovation Award is an annual award that is presented to a library staff member or project group/committee who has "developed an innovative program to provide library services at Rice University or who has shown exemplary service to the University community." Use this form to submit a nomination by March 29, 2024. 

Eligibility: All Fondren Library staff members are eligible, except for those on this year's Award Selection Committee.

Nominations: Nominations for the award may be made by any member of the Rice community. Nominations for groups consisting of up to eight library staff members are also welcome. Self-nominations, including a group of which you are a member, are welcome. The nomination should detail the innovative service program created or the involvement of the nominee(s) in the service of Fondren Library and the greater university community.

The committee will use the information in the written nominations to make their decision -- please be as detailed as possible.

Selection Process: An Award Selection Committee comprised of the chair of the selection committee, two other Fondren Library staff members (one professional and one paraprofessional), one Rice University faculty member and one Fondren Library student employee will review the nominations and select the recipient(s) of the award. The Award Selection Committee will make its selection by late April/early May.

Award Ceremony: The award will be presented at a public ceremony by the Vice Provost and University Librarian.

History: This award comes from an endowed fund set up by the estate of Dr. Beth Shapiro, who was the University Librarian at Fondren Library from January 1991 until her death in 1995. She received Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in sociology from Michigan State University between 1968 and 1982. Before coming to Rice, she was employed at the Michigan State University Libraries where she was Deputy Director. Dr. Shapiro was professionally active in numerous library organizations for more than twenty years, contributing regularly to the professional literature and serving on many boards and committees.