The University Library's Barnard Outstanding Service Award Committee is pleased to announce Heather Stecklein, the University Archivist, as this year's Outstanding Service Award recipient.
Heather currently services as Stout's campus Records Officer and administers the UW-Stout University Archives and the Area Research Center for Dunn, Barron, and Pepin Counties. She also collaborates with Stout faculty on classroom projects and provides primary source instruction to faculty and students.
Heather's nominators spoke of her excellent attitude, willingness to collaborate, and efforts to expand access to archival resources through digital initiatives, instruction, and outreach. Praise for Heather's work and service to UW-Stout includes:
- "Heather takes great pride in the excellence and professionalism of her work. She is eager to pick up items from across campus to store in Archives. When I was working on a research project, she provided much support in helping me decide on a topic. She also directed me to very helpful Archived resources that I would not have otherwise known about. She is also very knowledgeable about UW-Stout's history"
- "Heather has transformed the ARC. There's always something interesting happening up there and I've enjoyed how they've been centrally involved with big campus publicity projects. Eg, the 125 anniversary celebration, homecoming, holidays, and general topical things that really come to life thanks to the content and texture provided by ARC."
- "Heather continually works to improve access to archival researchers both at Stout and in the greater community. She has worked diligently to digitize records to make more of them available to uses not in the library, and has also increased access by making them more available. Since Heather has come to Stout she has partnered with many instructors to use original documents from the archives for projects and enhanced learning."
- "I don't think Heather has ever said "no" to a request for collaboration or information. Heather always responds to requests for help enthusiastically and with a "yes!" Heather is dedicated and thorough in providing support to researchers, she has a true passion for history and for sharing it"
An award ceremony and reception in honor of Heather will be held at 10:00am on April 11th in the University Archives.
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.