Six Harvard Library Heroes were honored by President Drew Faust in a ceremony honoring their exceptional service.
Sharon Bayer, Manager of Systems Deployment and Integration, Library Technology Services
"Your expert guidance has advanced the systems and services essential to the work of Harvard Library. Most recently, your talent for organizing many moving parts was indispensable in the shift of library servers to the cloud. You skillfully unite technologists and librarians with patience and wisdom. Anyone can get through a project 'like a boss.' Your admirers are grateful you handle things like a leader."
Amy Deschenes, Senior UX Consultant
"In what seems like three clicks, you’ve established Harvard Library’s User Research Center as a preeminent user experience — or, UX — lab. Like a good user interface, you’ve been intuitive, responsive and flexible — combating challenges with innovative solutions. Your expertise and enthusiasm navigate everyone toward better online experiences. At a time when it can be easy to use a template and call it done, we’re thankful 'you do UX.'”
Ruth Hill, Oral History Coordinator, Schlesinger Library
"In four decades as Schlesinger Library’s oral history coordinator, your personal narrative has an amazing arc. As one of the godmothers of the renowned Black Women Oral History Project and several similar projects, you’ve helped other women tell their stories and immortalized their experiences as well. Add to those feats the encouragement of cross-school scholarship and the mentorship of generations of librarians and archivists of color and you have a tale for the ages."
Barbara Meloni, Public Services Archivist, Harvard University Archives
"You wield the power of primary sources. As the longtime public services archivist at the University Archives, your careful stewardship and guidance to researchers from around the world brings the past into the present every day. And you’re equally welcoming to students new to special collections, making the Archives an exciting educational resource to support original research and deeper understanding. Clio smiles upon you."
Amanda Montoya, Custodian, 90 Mt. Auburn Street
"Your conscientious work ensures ideal conditions for irreplaceable treasures from the Harvard Library’s special collections as well as a healthy and welcoming workplace. Staff across four Harvard Library departments sing your praises — for clean floors, shiny entryway doors, quickly cleaned conference rooms, and extra help with break room fridges. For all the love you pour into 90 Mt. Auburn Street, it wants you to know: It loves you back!"
Anu Vedantham, Director of Learning and Teaching Services
"Your interim leadership of the Cabot Science Library renewal produced dynamic events that allow students to collaborate, socialize, and study in an inspirational, high-tech space. The update has sparked a new understanding of the nature of a library as a place where discoveries take place through interactive learning. Though temporary, your touch has yielded a lasting legacy."
See also: Archives, Cabot, Human Resources, Library Technology Services, Preservation,