Team Collaboration Award

The Team Collaboration Award is given annually to recognize teamwork and professional collaborations among informal or formal teams that contribute with creativity and innovation to the mission, values, or goals of KU Libraries. Each member of the winning team will receive a cash award (amounts may vary, given the flexible nature of the award). The award will be formally acknowledged at KU Libraries' annual Celebration of Excellence Ceremony.

Eligibility

To be eligible for nomination, a team should be composed of two or more KU Libraries employees. Team members must be faculty or staff who have played a key role in leading, energizing or propelling a libraries initiative. Projects should have been completed or initiated (if ongoing) within the past two academic years. There is no requirement for nominees to have been employed at KU for a certain duration of time. 

Nomination Procedures

A call for nominations will be made annually by the Dean of Libraries. Nominators are asked to complete a Team Collaboration Award Nomination Form by October 17, 2025. Nominations or self-nominations should include: 

  • Names and roles of each team member being nominated.
  • A one to two-page (400-600 words) description of the work completed (or ongoing) and how the collaboration reflects a creative or innovative approach to advancing KU Libraries' mission, values, or goals.
  • Names of 2-3 references who may be contacted for more information.
  • Additional documentation that provides evidence of impact is also allowed but not required. (e.g., project documents, quotes or metrics that illustrate positive effects, etc.)
  • Strong nominations would include well-crafted materials that clearly articulate details of effort and degree of impact.
     

Criteria 

Nominations should be based on demonstration of positive impact on stakeholders and/or effectiveness in advancing library priorities. The Team Collaboration Award recognizes a highly collaborative approach and outstanding level of initiative, creativity and innovation.

Selection

At least one representative from our Faculty Awards Committee and Staff Excellence Award Committee will join the Dean and library leadership to review nominations and make a collective determination. Each team member will receive a letter of recognition from the Dean, certificate, and cash award. Due to the flexible nature of the award, cash amounts may vary, based on determination of the Dean and library leadership.

All nomination materials will be considered confidential and will be retained in the Library Administration Office files.