Although anyone in the University libraries may thank a colleague or nominate that person for an award, the individual supervisor has greater recognition responsibility. As a supervisor, you can help the Library create a fair and successful program by: offering genuine recognition within and beyond your unit/department; making thoughtful recommendations for award and reward programs; and by using management practices that enhance employee success and satisfaction.

Words: Recognize employees by offering genuine words of acknowledgment.

• sincerely spoken “thank you”

• thank you note to individual

• note to supervisor

Awards: Recognize employees by taking the time to nominate them for public rewards like those listed below.

Library Awards

• PEEPS on-the-spot awards

• Employee Recognition Awards The UL Employee Recognition Awards are presented to individuals and to teams to recognize outstanding contributions during the past year and/or continuing excellence.

University Awards

• Notre Dame Spirit Award The Notre Dame Spirit Award is presented to staff members who, through exceptional service, positively affect the lives of others. Recipients are known for leading by example, bringing out the best in coworkers, and carrying on the best aspects of the ND tradition.

• Notre Dame Award of Merit The Notre Dame Award of Merit is presented to staff members who exemplify exceptional performance and demonstrate integrity and service to the ND community.

• Presidential Award The Presidential Award is presented to those staff members who exemplify consistently outstanding performance and demonstrate integrity and service not only to the University of Notre Dame but also to the surrounding community.

• Foik Award (See Faculty Handbook: Awards Section) The Foik Award is given annually to a library faculty member who has contributed significantly to library service to the Notre Dame community or to the library profession through personal scholarship or involvement in professional associations.

• Team Irish Award Team Irish Award is awarded to teams of staff members who collaborate on a value-added project, process, or other significant initiative that brings about radical, positive change, improves the department's performance and image, and whose results contribute to the ND’s goals.

Other Awards

• Library Mosaics/Colt Annual Awards The Library Mosaics/Colt Annual Awards are given to individuals who have been outstanding in their service to library support staff.

• Library Mosaics – Supporting Cast Recommendation

• Library Journal Paraprofessional of the Year – nomination: Library Journal Paraprofessional of the Year annual award honors libraries' essential non-MLS workers ; Honors excellence in job performance, including contribution(s) enabling the library to serve its constituents and/or its community (whether town,college/university, school, or corporation) better.

• LJ Librarian of the Year Award – nomination: LJ Librarian of the Year Award honors a professional librarian for outstanding achievement and accomplishments reflecting the loftiest service goals of the library profession

• LJ Movers & Shakers Award–nomination: LJ Movers & Shakers Award honors emerging leaders in the library world; an individual whose innovation and creativity are who are making a difference in our library.

Individual Acts of Appreciation -- by spontaneously rewarding individual and team activities.

Different people want different things. Although scientific studies show considerable overlap in motivational values, these studies and the Notre Dame Libraries’ own Performance Preference Survey conducted in September 2004 show values differ according to the individuals’ personal psychology, culture/experience, and current life situation. Supervisors should talk with staff in their own work area to determine the type of recognition they value.

Some potential options include:

food – donuts on a snowy morning, candy bars waiting on Monday morning, a team lunch, and ice-cream outing, etc.

special supplies – software, desk organizers, a desk book on a work-related topic, etc.

small gifts – flowers, well-tied balloons, cookie bouquets, ND items

grab a gift (chance for a mystery gift from a grab bag of gifts)*

for other ideas, see:

• Bob Nelson’s Recognition Resources web site for a list of recognition ideas and research
• Blue Mountain - send free recognition e-cards
• Virtual Florist - send a free virtual bouquet of flowers
• Ideas from ALA / Allied professional Association
  

Encouraging Development:

Recognize employees by working with them to expand and use their talents in ways that support the University’s goals and the individual’s ambitions.

• Performance Review – Development Plan

• Divisional support

• UL Training & Development Programs

• Human Resource Professional Development Programs

• OIT Sessions

• Indiana Library Federation – Annual meeting and District I conference

• Counterpart meetings

• Human Resource Library

• Employee Assistance program –

• Job exchanges and cross training –

Communication:

Recognize employees by demonstrating on-going respect for their intelligence and contributions.

• Incorporating vision and values into words and actions

• Sharing information and providing context

• Sharing decision-making

• Creating visual images and documentation of work

(* Items marked with an asterisk require funding support from Divisional or Departmental discretionary funds.)

Developed by: Performance and Recognition Advisory Group --
Jo Bessler, Bev Bradford, Steve Hayes, Marcy Simons, and Lorry Zeugner
May 4, 2005