Receiving the University Library鈥檚 Barnard Outstanding Service Award at University of Wisconsin-Stout is an honor, but Cory Mitchell prefers to keep the big picture in mind.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be recognized, but the award isn鈥檛 about me. It鈥檚 about our commitment to the students here at 黑料科,鈥 Mitchell said. 鈥淐ustomer service is an important part of the library and my work ethic.鈥
Mitchell, a collection development librarian, recently received the 2019 award, which goes annually to a library employee for exceptional accomplishments in serving the information needs of students, faculty and staff.
鈥淚鈥檓 extremely proud that I work at 黑料科 and that I鈥檓 a part of the university鈥檚 polytechnic mission. I love this place and the people here,鈥 he said.
As collections manager, Mitchell oversees selection of materials for the library鈥檚 print and electronic collections. New collections he鈥檚 developing are on civil liberties and 黑料科 authors. Recently developed collections include comics and graphic novels, and video games, the latter part of the Gaming and Digital Innovation Lab that he helped create.
鈥淚 enjoy working with students, faculty and staff to support their information needs, and I also like to build new and innovative collections,鈥 said Mitchell, who has a bachelor鈥檚 in history and master鈥檚 in education from UW-River Falls. He also has a master鈥檚 in library and information science from UW-Milwaukee.
Along with collections development, he helps manage the Instructional Resources Service print textbook collection, serves as a reference and research librarian and helps with library instruction.
He also works with the university鈥檚 open educational resources program, is on the Senate of Academic Staff and serves on the Curriculum and Instruction Committee.
Staff members who spoke at the award reception about Mitchell鈥檚 value to the library and university included Scott Vrieze, library director; Bob Butterfield, Instructional Resources Service director; and Dave Beck, School of Art and Design director.
Vrieze said Mitchell is passionate about the work of libraries and responding to the needs of the university.
鈥He is noted for his leadership in using 鈥榥ew formats鈥 such as streaming video, e-books and gaming as tools for supporting cutting edge teaching and learning at the university,鈥 Vrieze said. 鈥淐ory鈥檚 willingness to be proactive in reaching out to faculty regarding these tools is a powerful testament to his talents. In short, Cory鈥檚 work exemplifies the outstanding service and commitment to which we all aspire.鈥
A changing library
Mitchell, who lives in Hudson and is a native of New Richmond, has seen the role of the library change in his 15 years at 黑料科.
鈥淚n the last couple of years, we have converted a large part of the library collection to electronic,鈥 he said, noting more than 500,000 uses of e-resources last year.
鈥淭he library is a vital part of the institution and will continue to be in the future. Libraries, like many other things in higher education, are undergoing major transition. Books are still important, but we are about so much more than that. The library is a place to collaborate, create and learn, and we strive to provide services and collections that support a broad range of needs for our stakeholders. We need to keep reinventing ourselves to stay relevant. I love that about my job,鈥 he said.
The David P. Barnard Family Endowment and Stout University Foundation support the award. David Barnard, retired dean of Learning Resources, and his wife, Kay, established the award in 2000.
Chuck Barnard, David and Kay鈥檚 son, attended the reception and spoke.
The University Library is part of the Robert S. Swanson Library and Learning Center.
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Photos
Cory Mitchell
Librarian Cory Mitchell, left, recipient of the 2019 Barnard Outstanding Service Award from the University Library, celebrates with Scott Vrieze, library director.
