Receiving the University Library’s Barnard Outstanding Service Award at University of Wisconsin-Stout is an honor, but Cory Mitchell prefers to keep the big picture in mind.
“It’s nice to be recognized, but the award isn’t about me. It’s about our commitment to the students here at UW-Stout,” Mitchell said. “Customer service is an important part of the library and my work ethic.”
Mitchell, a collection development librarian, recently received the 2019 award, which goes annually to a library employee for exceptional accomplishments in serving the information needs of students, faculty and staff.
“I’m extremely proud that I work at UW-Stout and that I’m a part of the university’s polytechnic mission. I love this place and the people here,” he said.
As collections manager, Mitchell oversees selection of materials for the library’s print and electronic collections. New collections he’s developing are on civil liberties and UW-Stout authors. Recently developed collections include comics and graphic novels, and video games, the latter part of the Gaming and Digital Innovation Lab that he helped create.
“I enjoy working with students, faculty and staff to support their information needs, and I also like to build new and innovative collections,” said Mitchell, who has a bachelor’s in history and master’s in education from UW-River Falls. He also has a master’s in library and information science from UW-Milwaukee.
Along with collections development, he helps manage the Instructional Resources Service print textbook collection, serves as a reference and research librarian and helps with library instruction.
He also works with the university’s open educational resources program, is on the Senate of Academic Staff and serves on the Curriculum and Instruction Committee.
Staff members who spoke at the award reception about Mitchell’s value to the library and university included Scott Vrieze, library director; Bob Butterfield, Instructional Resources Service director; and Dave Beck, School of Art and Design director.
Vrieze said Mitchell is passionate about the work of libraries and responding to the needs of the university.
“He is noted for his leadership in using ‘new formats’ such as streaming video, e-books and gaming as tools for supporting cutting edge teaching and learning at the university,” Vrieze said. “Cory’s willingness to be proactive in reaching out to faculty regarding these tools is a powerful testament to his talents. In short, Cory’s work exemplifies the outstanding service and commitment to which we all aspire.”
A changing library
Mitchell, who lives in Hudson and is a native of New Richmond, has seen the role of the library change in his 15 years at UW-Stout.
“In the last couple of years, we have converted a large part of the library collection to electronic,” he said, noting more than 500,000 uses of e-resources last year.
“The library is a vital part of the institution and will continue to be in the future. Libraries, like many other things in higher education, are undergoing major transition. Books are still important, but we are about so much more than that. The library is a place to collaborate, create and learn, and we strive to provide services and collections that support a broad range of needs for our stakeholders. We need to keep reinventing ourselves to stay relevant. I love that about my job,” he said.
The David P. Barnard Family Endowment and Stout University Foundation support the award. David Barnard, retired dean of Learning Resources, and his wife, Kay, established the award in 2000.
Chuck Barnard, David and Kay’s son, attended the reception and spoke.
The University Library is part of the Robert S. Swanson Library and Learning Center.
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Photos
Cory Mitchell
Librarian Cory Mitchell, left, recipient of the 2019 Barnard Outstanding Service Award from the University Library, celebrates with Scott Vrieze, library director.
