Carol Reese is the October Employee of the Month

Carol Reese, a senior library specialist at Brookens Library, has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for October 2016.

Reese started working at Brookens Library in 1995 in the Interlibrary Loan Department. She now works in the acquisitions, where she is known for going above and beyond to help students and faculty acquire the resources they need.

“Carol maintains a positive attitude towards the patrons she serves and understands their information needs,” said her nominator. “She goes above and beyond to locate items to borrow for patrons or to purchase within acquisitions. She understands first and foremost that we are here for the students.”

Reese recently stepped up and took over interlibrary loan responsibilities, on top of her acquisition duties, when an employee retired.

“She volunteered to take over her duties and offered to train the new specialist when they were hired. Without even being asked, she assumed the interlibrary loan workload, again, and balanced it with her current acquisitions workload,” said her nominator.

Reese has also helped Brookens Library transition to a new upgraded computer system. She meticulously worked out errors and sought out help from others.

“She continually helps out other areas when necessary, rather than focusing only on the job at hand. She is a great asset to the University of Illinois Springfield staff,” said her nominator.

Kara Lawyer is the September Employee of the Month

Kara Lawyer, an office support specialist for the Human Development Counseling and Human Services Departments, has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for September.

Lawyer is student focused, helpful, responsive and knowledgeable. She is known for actively seeking ways to improve the processes within her department.

“Her positive relationships with colleagues are evident in the ways in which faculty seek her out for assistance, ask about her personal life, and display their gratitude,” said a nominator. “They are confident in her abilities to use her knowledge of University processes to efficiently carry out her job duties.”

Lawyer recently identified a problem with a process in the department and worked with faculty members to improve the procedures to ensure students’ satisfaction. She has also been proactive in organizing student files and answering records requests.

“She is always patient and kind in her explanations and provides additional resources she thinks might be useful,” said a nominator. “I think her interpersonal relationships demonstrate that she enjoys coming to work and supporting those within her departments.”

Lawyer has worked at UIS for five years and is a member of the Civil Service Advisory Committee.