The University Libraries held our biannual Library Student Assistant Award reception on November 8, 2024. Three students were selected for the Fall semester awards and received a $500 award for their excellent job performance in the University Libraries. Library Student Assistant Awards are funded by contributions to the Campus Scholarship Innovation Campaign from the University Libraries’ staff and other donors, and interest earned from the Friends of the Libraries endowment fund. To date, 442 awards have been distributed to 256 students totaling $207,150.

University Libraries staff and the Friends of the Libraries Board would like to congratulate this semester’s winners:

Alexis Bylczynski, a graduate student majoring in Humanities, began working for the Instruction and Research Services Department in the January of 2023. Alexis has a very warm and welcoming attitude toward everyone who approaches the Information Desk. She does a great job locating books in our catalog and the OhioLINK catalog as well as helping patrons find articles in our databases. Some of the recent transactions Alexis has logged include assisting a student who needed peer reviewed resources on the effects of lead exposure on children, a student who needed articles on sensitive topics, including human trafficking, and many citation questions from faculty and students. As a graduate student she is completing a demanding peer mentorship program and recently had the opportunity to lead a library tour for the group of students she is peer mentoring. Her work experience at the library provided her with the background she needed to give an overview of library services to the large group of nearly 60 students. Alexis is always there to lend a helping hand. Her dedication makes her an invaluable asset to both the library and the students she serves.   

Alanah Culbreath is a junior majoring in Fine Arts who has worked for the Instruction & Research Services Department since Fall semester 2022. Alanah has proven herself to be an invaluable asset to our team. She is dependable, creative, and exceptionally hardworking. Whether it is volunteering for extra projects, shelving the Ellison Die Cuts, or tackling hands-on tasks like making buttons, Alanah is always quick to lend a hand. Beyond her technical skills, Alanah’s eagerness to help others truly shines in her interactions with staff, students, and faculty. She is kind, approachable, and knowledgeable, making her the go-to resource for anyone in need of assistance. At the Information Desk, she consistently greets everyone with a warm and welcoming demeanor. She listens carefully, asks insightful follow-up questions, and offers solutions that meet the needs of our library users. Whether she’s refilling a printer, guiding a student through logging into WINGS or Pilot, or referring complex questions to the appropriate contact, Alanah handles every situation with professionalism and enthusiasm, always eager to learn more. She is a treasured member of our library team.

Mikai “Kai” Dixon, a senior majoring in African and African American Studies, began working for the Resource Delivery Services Department in February 2022. Kai is our most senior student worker and helps keep the department running when most other staff are gone. This semester Kai has been working late-night shifts until midnight and helping staff with the entire range of potential duties. It is incredibly valuable to have such an experienced student here to help when working here alone, as they can help with routine work but also assist in keeping an eye on the building and its patrons. Kai has been a tremendous help in training our new student workers this semester, including checking the new students’ shelving accuracy and leaving detailed and thoughtful notes about where they are in the learning process. Kai’s professionalism, attention to detail, and thoughtfulness toward fellow student workers has been a huge asset this semester. Kai is a dedicated, dependable student worker who enjoys helping the Resource and Delivery Services Department, the library, and fellow students achieve success. Kai is a reliable and valuable asset to the library.