NCSU Libraries Focus Online

Volume 21 number 1 - Fall 2000

By Terrell A. Crow and Jinnie Y. Davis, Scholarly Communication and External Relations

The NCSU Libraries staged a festive celebration on March 21, 2000, in honor of its selection as the recipient of the Association of College and Research Libraries' (ACRL) first Excellence in Academic Libraries Award in the university category. Nearly 200 individuals enjoyed an elegant luncheon in the Talley Student Center Grand Ballroom before the official ceremony began. Among those invited were library staff members, retired library administrators, university administrators and faculty, members of the Friends of the Library Board of Directors, state legislators, student leaders, and special guests. Each guest received a gold-plated commemorative bookmark from the Libraries and a red button supplied by ACRL that read, "NCSU Libraries: Best of the Best."

Larry L. Hardesty, president of ACRL, formally presented the handsome crystal award to North Carolina State University Chancellor Marye Anne Fox and Provost Kermit L. Hall. Hardesty described the award criteria and the library's well-documented description of its programs and outcomes in ACRL's decision to give the award to the NCSU Libraries. Chancellor Fox and Provost Hall each took a few moments to describe their pride in the library staff's accomplishments and the importance of academic libraries to any major research institution. The chancellor also announced she would have the NC State Memorial Belltower lit in red that evening, a special honor conferred by the executive officers only for major awards or athletic victories. Provost Hall also expressed his admiration for Susan Nutter's outstanding leadership as library director before announcing the library's latest ARL ranking, a rise to 35 out of 111 academic research libraries. Following the award presentation, Donald Satisky, vice president for international sales and marketing for Blackwell's Book Services, Inc., delivered a $3,000 check to Jinnie Y. Davis, assistant director for Scholarly Communication and External Relations. Davis was representing Vice Provost and Director of Libraries Susan K. Nutter, who was unable to attend the ceremony because of surgery. Satisky described the many times he had visited the NC State library in his early career and graciously acknowledged the contributions of former library director I. T. Littleton and assistant directors Cy King and Nell Waltner. Davis paid tribute to the exemplary leadership and strategic vision of Susan Nutter.

As a very special conclusion to the program, the Friends of the Library's Author-in-Residence, internationally acclaimed writer Kaye Gibbons, described her many years of association with the NCSU Libraries. She worked there during her undergraduate days at the university, and she recalled vividly her first encounter with newly hired library director Susan Nutter from MIT. Gibbons, sauntering right into Nutter's office one day, said, "I understand you're from "up there" and you're going to have this place full of computers and I want it smelling like books." Gibbons added she wanted the library always to smell like books, which Nutter promised to ensure. From this initial encounter, the Author-in-Residence program blossomed, with Kaye Gibbons providing unstinting support, talks, and donations to an institution she cherishes.

The library videotaped the award program, as well as typical activities at the D. H. Hill Library later that day. Publicity about the award resulted in an editorial in the Raleigh News and Observer praising the NCSU Libraries' achievements while noting the need for resources to sustain its momentum. Altogether, it was a joyous occasion that encompassed the entire university and truly accomplished the Excellence in Academic Libraries Award program’s goal of achieving campus recognition of award-winning libraries.