Library Faculty of the Year Award

The UNCW Library Faculty of the Year Award recognizes a faculty librarian who has demonstrated exceptional contributions in one or more areas of teaching & instruction, research & scholarly support, service & leadership, innovation & creativity, community engagement, and/or professional development, as well as overall excellence in librarianship. This award celebrates innovation, leadership, and dedication to the mission of the university and its academic community.  

Eligibility

  • Nominees must be full-time faculty librarians at UNCW.
  • Must have completed at least one full academic year of service at the library.
  • Previous recipients are eligible once within a 5-year period.

Award Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated on their achievements in one or more of the following areas:

  • Teaching & Instruction: Excellence in information literacy instruction and student engagement; development of innovative teaching strategies or resources.
  • Research & Scholarly Support: Significant contributions to faculty and student research projects; creation of research guides, tools, or consultations that enhance scholarship.
  • Service & Leadership: Active involvement in campus committees, professional organizations, or mentorship.
  • Innovation & Creativity: Implementation of new technologies, programs, or services that improve library operations or user experience.
  • Community Engagement: Outreach initiatives that strengthen connections with students, faculty, or the broader community.
  • Professional Development: Publications, presentations, or continuing education that advance the profession.

Nomination Process

  • Who Can Nominate: Any UNCW faculty, staff, student, or alumnus.
  • Nomination Form Includes: Nominee’s name and title; nominator’s name and relationship to nominee; a statement (maximum 1 page) describing why the nominee deserves the award, including specific examples of impact related to the award criteria.
  • Supporting Materials: Nominees will be invited to submit a portfolio including resume/CV, most recent annual activities report, and written statement providing examples of excellence or recent accomplishments in one or more areas of teaching & instruction, research & scholarly support, service & leadership, innovation & creativity, community engagement, and/or professional development, as well as overall scope of work. 

Selection Process

Five to seven faculty from:

  • The Faculty Senate Information, Technology, and Library Committee
  • The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA)
  • The College of Science and Engineering (CSE)
  • The Cameron School of Business (CSB)
  • The Watson College of Education (WCE)
  • The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS)
  • The most recent recipient of the Library Faculty of the Year Award.

Key Dates and Times

  • Nominations open in November, due in December
  • Nominee application due end of January
  • Winner notified in March
  • Award presented in April/May

Award

  • One-time, $1000 stipend
  • Physical award (medallion)
  • Paper certificate with frame, and digital copy
  • Announcement and presentation at the Spring Faculty Awards event (early April), and a late spring library/TLLS celebration event
     

Nominations and applications are accepted through UNCW's InfoReady portal.