Purpose
To allow supervisors and peers at the division, department, unit, and peer to peer level to recognize excellence toward organizational goals and to celebrate individual and group accomplishments and major milestones at the Libraries.
Guidelines
- Any permanent library employee may submit a proposal. Proposals from departments and units are also welcome.
- Proposals may fund recognition activities for individuals, teams, or a combination.
- Proposals must fund activities that recognize significant accomplishments or milestones tied to library goals and objectives.
- Selected proposals are awarded funds dependent on the budget and the number of proposals received.
- Proposals are accepted year-round and are reviewed and awarded by the Employee Recognition Committee.
Timeline
Submissions are reviewed at Employee Recognition Committee meetings, which take place the second Monday of each month or by committee email.
Examples
Below are examples of some recent uses of funds. Feel free to contact the Employee Recognition Committee email to discuss ideas you want to present for funding. Please note, these funds are primarily for use in funding food and drink for an appreciation event (we cannot fund purchases of gifts, gift-cards, or cash rewards).
Recognition program, lunch or dinner for a department or division unit in appreciation for major achievements (e.g., dinner/get-together for Shared Collections for a year of strong accomplishments and completion of major projects; appreciation lunch for Library West Pick-Up Service staff for assistance to library borrowers during the pandemic).
Celebration lunch for unit employees after reaching a productivity goal or completing a major project (e.g., lunch that celebrated accomplishments at the first-year anniversary of the Middle Management and Leadership Team).
Snacks and sodas/drinks to public services staff and student assistants for staffing additional desk hours during the crunch-time of reading and finals week when the libraries are extra busy (e.g., has been done for finals week at both Marston and West).
Acknowledgements for employees who provide excellent service, documented by patron comment cards. Peer recognitions by colleagues.
Coffee reception or desserts in appreciation for group or team effort (e.g., to recognize research & publication successes, team or unit grant-writing, successful series of activities or talks, major unit goal achieved, etc.
Guidelines for Budgeting
For holding a congratulations event or end of semester appreciation by providing snacks or hors d’oeuvres or dessert – please cap your requests at $10/person.
For catering boxed luncheons or a sit-down lunch – $15.00 to $20.00 per attendee but capped at $20.00 per person – (in addition, you can include the cost of a delivery charge).
Gift Ideas
As noted above, Recognition Funds cannot be used for the purchase of gift items. However, the Employee Recognition Committee has a stock of small “fun” items that you may choose as signs of appreciation – make use of them as “extra” items at a lunch or with snacks and beverages. To keep from depleting our stock too quickly, please follow these guidelines – choose up to three items per person for your event or a total of 36 items. Here are pictures of things you can choose – magnetic figures – mini-flashlights – fidget toys – puzzles.
