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Two ������ý���� librarians were recognized for their dedication and contributions to their profession.

Associate Professor-Librarian Heather Dalal received the 2020 Distinguished Service Award and Assistant Professor-Librarian Dr. Sharon Whitfield received the Research Award. The accolades were given by the New Jersey Library Association's College and University Section/Association of College and Research Libraries New Jersey chapter (NJLA-CUS/ACRL-NJ).

Dalal was nominated by Associate Professor-Librarian Melissa Hofmann who praised her dedication to growing information literacy at ������ý���� and throughout New Jersey.

"Heather’s commitment to and passion for her work show in her every endeavor," she wrote in her nomination letter. "She inspires me daily to strive to be the best librarian, and she cannot be more deserving of this honor.”

Dalal has served on various NJLA-CUS/ACRL-NJ committees, as ACRL-NJ vice president and president and is the current chair of the Research Committee and newly formed Strategic Planning Committee. At ������ý����, she has served on all the librarians’ search committees, as a mentor at Talbott Library and coordinates the work of ������ý����’s adjunct outreach librarians.

Dalal says she found her passion for the library in college and has been dedicated to the profession since.

“I wasn’t a person who loved reading as a kid, but in college I loved researching and then helping others with it," she says. "I love the information hunt.”

Whitfield was honored for her research on gender and library technology issues. Her article “Women Technology Librarians as Good Citizens” was recently published in the Journal of Academic Librarianship.

“This article documents the challenges that women in library technology continue to face in a feminized profession," she says. "Winning this award shows that the committee recognizes the importance of gender and library technology scholarship. It is my hope that by recognizing the challenges that women face in library technology we can work toward gender equity in the field.”

Beyond her research, Whitfield helps to plan the Library and Information Technology Association’s AvramCamp, “an unconference where women and non-binary technology library workers explore common challenges faced, learn strategies for dealing with them and discuss specific tools to build confidence.”

“������ý���� librarians are known in New Jersey for their research," says Dalal, who won the Research Award in 2018. Hofmann and Professor-Librarian Dr. Sharon Yang are past winners as well.