Eboni Johnson, Oberlin College; President

Our heartfelt congratulations go to Kathryn Venditti, Reference & Instruction Librarian at Ashland University. She received the 2014 Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award, which is ALAO’s highest honor.

Award winner Kathryn Venditti (on left) with Betsy Blankenship.

Past President Betsy Blankenship presented the award to Kathryn at the 40th Annual Conference, held on November 14 at the Kalahari Convention Center in Sandusky. Betsy noted that Kathryn has been involved with ALAO in several capacities, including Interest Group Coordinator, chair of the Instruction Interest group, and member of the program committee. She has made valuable contributions as Interest Group Coordinator, helping incoming chairs to be successful. Through her efforts to establish communication channels, processes, and training, she has prepared the interest group leadership to leverage all of ALAO’s rich resources. The handbook that she prepared for interest group chairs was lauded as being “brilliant for training and preparation of people that come and go from their roles.” One of her nominators stated that Kathryn is “incredibly supportive of her colleagues [and is] willing to lend a hand, an ear, or a shoulder whenever asked” and that in her role as Interest Group Coordinator, she “gracefully demonstrates the 4 Cs: class, coolness, compassion, and concern.”

Way to go, Kathryn. We appreciate all that you do!