DLS Award Winners Announced

The DuPage Library System Board announces the winners for three DLS Awards to be presented at DLS Day on May 18, 2009. Congratulations to the winners:

Friend of the Library

• Meredith Meder, President, and Lynn Hippensteel, Vice President of the Friends of the Villa Park Public Library

Meredith Meder and Lynn Hippensteel demonstrate a strong, enthusiastic commitment to the mission of the Villa Park Public Library. Last fall, the library’s annual Murder Mystery Event was co-directed by Meder and Hippensteel, demonstrating their dedication to the library as well as their talents and energetic volunteer spirit.

Meder and Hippensteel were instrumental in the Villa Park Public Library’s Renew It Now! referendum committee. Meder coordinated the different subcommittees and Hippensteel organized the canvassing of neighborhoods as co-chair of the Neighborhood Committee. In addition, their fundraising activities contribute to the overall success of the friends group, the library, and continue to generate awareness of the library’s services and activities.

Villa Park Public Library Board President Robert Wagner wrote about the winners’ strong commitment to the library and its goals. Library Director Sandra Hill echoed the sentiment. “We feel very fortunate to have these two women willing to give so much of their time and talent on behalf of the library,” she wrote.

Support Staff Award

• Deborah Buschman, Document Delivery Specialist, BP Central Research Library, Naperville

The “face of library services at BP,” Debbie Buschman staffs the front desk at BP and provides excellent, consummate, and timely customer service. She is responsible for proprietary documents and satisfies the most esoteric customer requests for information. Known as a leader and innovator, Buschman models the best in library service.

When there was an early demand for digital material, she took the initiative to obtain the library’s first book scanner. Recently, she put a digital document scanner in place to better serve the immediate needs of the corporation’s global clientele. She is the “go to” person at the library and receives accolades for handling hundreds of Interlibrary Loan requests, working with the Records Management Department to develop and transition to new systems, and to identify and transfer materials which were a part of the sale of the chemicals division to Ineos.

A thirty-five year employee of the library, Buschman began her career at the library when the company was Amoco. Customers, staff, and contractors throughout BP count on her to help them find what they need. She has a thorough knowledge of information center procedures, the library collection, and document and delivery expertise. Nominated by Joyce Fedeczko, nine employees (some of them overseas) added to the nomination and stressed how Debbie Buschman solves the most complex problems and delivers on-time results, all with a smile. 

Librarian of the Year

• Karen Dunford, Adult Services Supervisor, Nichols Library, Naperville Public Library

Karen Dunford exhibits “boundless enthusiasm” as a risk-taker, innovator, and change agent at Naperville Public Library. She continually demonstrates her expertise in working collaboratively and in forming partnerships with community agencies to better the library and the community. She does all of this with the support of the Adult Services team she has assembled.  

Dunford collaborated with Naper Settlement, Naperville Community Television (NCTV), and the Illinois State Library to create a digitized collection of Naperville's historic materials for the Illinois Digital Archives, an LSTA grant funded project. The project received the highest award from the Illinois State Historical Library.

A frequent speaker and panelist, Dunford has presented and served as a panelist for the American Library Association, Illinois Library Association, Young Adult Library Services Association, and the DuPage Library System.

Under Dunford’s guidance, Naperville Public Library won the Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults Award for its revamped teen summer reading program.

Dunford was nominated in a letter co-authored by Executive Director Donna Dziedzic and seven of her peers.

Congratulations to all the DLS Award winners from the board and staff at DLS. Their contribution and service are fine examples of how DLS members continue to make a difference in the lives of the patrons they serve and their communities.

“DLS libraries are filled with wonderfully capable people. These awards are given to recognize 2009's best," said Acting Executive Director Pamela Kramer.

Start thinking now about who you will nominate for DLS Awards next year. There are so many talented DLS members, deserving of recognition.

Register for DLS Day here.