David Hajdik, the Distance Learning and Reference Librarian at Volpe Library of Tennessee Tech University, is the 2012 TEL Trainer of the Year. David traveled more than any other Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) trainer this year, logging over 341 miles to conduct TEL training sessions for many of the small libraries around Cookeville. He was honored to accept the award, sponsored by LearningExpress, LLC and presented at the Tenn-Share Fall Conference on September 28.

TEL gives everyone in Tennessee free access to trusted online resources like World Book Encyclopedia, InfoTrac, and LearningExpress Library. TEL is made possible through funding provided by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee and the U. S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. TEL is administered by the Tennessee State Library and Archives, a division of the Tennessee Office of the Secretary of State. Please contact TEL Coordinator Wendy Cornelisen at tel.tsla [at] tn [dot] gov with any questions.

Jodie Gambill, Systems Librarian at Vanderbilt University Library, is the co-webmistress for Tenn-Share. She was named the first Deanna Nipp-Kientz Memorial Award Volunteer of the Year at the Tenn-Share Fall Conference on September 28. In this role, she has given Tenn-Share excellent website services for several years. She helped to build the Tenn-Share website and related domains, provided technical support, restored lost content, improved security measures, created procedures, and created a database for the membership list. Jodie has also served on other Tenn-Share committees, and she has not missed a board meeting since 2008.

This is but a subset representing the hours and expertise Jodie has given to Tenn-Share. Her tireless and long-term service reflects the legacy of Deanna Nipp-Kientz, Tenn-Share's Membership Records Coordinator from 1999 until her death in 2012. Deanna shaped the position and stated that it was her joy to work with “Tenn-Share folks, a great group of intelligent and spirited Tennesseans who, with cooperation, vision, and hard work, are the statewide leaders in making information more accessible to our citizens.” Jodie was recognized for exemplifying a similar exceptional volunteer spirit as Deanna, the "Membership Database Queen."

David Atkins, Head of the Resources Sharing and Document Delivery department at the University of Tennessee John C. Hodges Library, was recognized for his leadership in the launch of Firefly, Tenn-Share's courier. David was awarded the Tenn-Share Tennessee Resource Sharing Award for this work, but he has been a leader in state-wide, national and international resource-sharing endeavors.  Tenn-Share thanks EBSCO for its sponsorship of the award.

David has led a variety of projects to develop and promote resource sharing between various types of libraries for many years. One such project is the Auto-Graphics-to-ILLiad Bridge, which enables borrowing requests to move between Tennessee’s public library and academic library computer systems.  David also developed Info-to-Go, providing Knox County Public Schools with materials on loan from Knox County Public Library and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville libraries.  He gives presentations at many conferences and is a leader in the American Library Association on resource sharing and access issues. Hundreds of Tennessee library staff have waited a long time to be able to easily and cheaply ship items between academic, public, school, and special library collections statewide. Thanks to David's hard work, the Firefly courier is a reality and patrons in libraries across the state can gain access to a wealth of materials.

Tenn-Share is looking to recruit a few good people.  Specifically, we need some board positions filled and would like you to consider nominating someone (a friend, colleague or yourself)!

If you are interested in serving on the Tenn-Share board, please email Tricia Bengel (Tricia.Bengel [at] nashville [dot] gov) and include a subject line of TENN-SHARE BOARD NOMINEE.  Our committee will review the nominees and make recommendations to the Executive Committee. 

We need to fill the following positions:

• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Academic Library Rep
• Public Library Rep (2)
• School Library Rep
• Special Library Rep

If you nominate someone, please include:

• What position you are nominating someone for (secretary, treasurer, academic rep, public rep, school rep, special rep)
• Person’s name
• Person’s email and phone number
• Institution of candidate
• Grand subdivision of TN (west, middle or east)
• Type of institution represented (special, school, academic, public)

If you would like to learn more about Tenn-Share, check out our website or call/email me!  I would love to tell you about all of our exciting initiatives. 

Please nominate your candidate by October 26.

Thanks!

Tricia Bengel
Tenn-Share Nominating Committee

The Tenn-Share Firefly courier service will be delayed, and we anticipate service will begin on November 1.  In the meantime, the Glowworm service will continue.  If your institution is interested in joining the courier service at this Glowworm stage, please contact the executive director.  We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to working with you.  We will update you as we have more information.