Chatman Receives UW Libraries Outstanding Staff Award

Wendi Chatman, senior library assistant in access services, is the recipient of the University of Wyoming Libraries Outstanding Staff Award for her contributions during 2015.

The Outstanding Staff Award, funded by the McMurry-Spieles Library Excellence Fund, honors a University Libraries staff member who has “demonstrated exceptional service to UW Libraries and made significant contributions to the university and/or the community.” Recipients of this award are chosen by a committee of their peers.

Chatman supervises the shelving process at Coe Library, leading a team of student employees who oversee the day-to-day placement of materials in the library. Her upbeat and optimistic personality provides Chatman the ability to handle difficult and stressful shelving projects with ease.

Fellow employee Shannon Person wrote in her nomination letter that Chatman “truly loves her job, and her positive attitude makes others want to work with her, work as hard as she does and enjoy doing it!”

During the 2014-15 winter break, Coe Library flooded after some water lines broke. More than 5,000 volumes of materials were displaced. A massive migration of books and shelving followed, and Chatman provided leadership and direction to those who volunteered to help.

Chatman joined UW Libraries more than a decade ago. In addition to working in access services, she has worked in the areas of technical services and media. She is an active member of UW Libraries Employee Support Committee (ESC).

Lori Phillips, interim dean of UW Libraries, noted in her nomination letter that Chatman is “engaged in discussions about how to improve morale within the organization, and her participation in the planning and execution of events sponsored by the ESC is an important part of the success of the group as a self-governed and self-directed vehicle within the libraries.”

“She truly loves working for the libraries and, as a co-worker, she is a pleasure to work with,” added Person in her nomination letter.