The Jean and Alexander Heard Library currently employs more than 220 staff. In an organization of this size, it is important to develop formal ways to recognize and reward staff for excellent performance. To address this need, the University Librarian has established a merit pool to provide additional salary funds for staff who make substantial contributions to the work of the library over the previous year.

INNOVATION/CREATIVITY AWARD
MERIT POOL PROGRAM

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Innovation/Creativity Award

The purpose of this award is to reward staff innovation and creativity which results in improved library service for patrons and/or more efficient methods of performing internal library tasks. The Staff Development Coordinating Committee believes a need exists for encouraging and recognizing staff members who find ways to improve library service and the library environment.

Features of the Innovation/ Creativity Award are outlined below.

• Any regular or term staff member is eligible to receive or to nominate any other staff member for the award. A staff member may be nominated for more than one idea in any calendar year. Nominations can be retroactive to February 1, 1998 for the initial year of the program.
• To be considered for the award, an idea must have been successfully implemented as verified by signatures of the immediate supervisor and division director or unit head.
• A nomination form that includes a detailed description of the idea and benefits gained by the library must be completed by the nominator and signed by the supervisor and division director. (See form below)
• Nominations will be submitted to the Library Administrative Services Office by division directors/unit heads.
• An award committee (to be appointed) will review the nominations, decide whether awards are warranted, and select the winner(s). Winner(s) will be eligible for a monetary award.
• Each winner will receive an individual plaque and have her/his name engraved on a permanent plaque that will be displayed for one year in a public area of the winner’s library. Plaques will be presented at the Library Service Award program.
• The Library Administrative Services Office will maintain records relating to this program. Blank nomination forms can be printed by clicking on the link below.

  Innovation/Creativity Award Nomination Form
  

  Microsoft Word (.doc) file
  

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Merit Pool Program

The Performance Evaluation Review Committee (PERC) looked into the system-wide merit pool and made final recommendations to the Library Management Council on January 21, 1998. Paul Gherman, University Librarian asked the Staff Development Coordinating Committee (SDCC) to devise a survey regarding the merit pool program. This survey was distributed to the Library staff members (excluding Biomedical Library) in January 2000. Below are the SDCC recommendations and Paul Gherman's conclusions regarding the Merit Pool program based on the staff-wide survey results on April 5, 2000.

• The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries should implement a system-wide merit pool process to address specific equity issues and reward exceptional staff performance.
• Distribution of awards should be proportionate to the total exempt/non-exempt library staff population.
• The University Librarian should establish a merit award committee consisting of five members, three non-exempt and two exempt staff members. The University Librarian will be a voting member of the final selection committee. The The Library Personnel Officer will be ex officio; a non-voting member, serving as an advisor and an information source for the group when needed. The University Librarian will continue to appoint the members to the Committee, making sure to balance appoints among the divisions/departments.
• Each Division Director shall submit nominations for merit/equity pool consideration. There is no restriction regarding minimum or maximum number of nominees from each division. Each nomination shall include the nominee's current performance evaluation and a detailed letter of recommendation from the Division Director. SDCC has developed a form to provide Division Directors with uniform guidelines for providing information about nominees' contributions and qualifications for consideration for the award. See below to view the Merit Nomination Form.
• Staff will be eligible to be nominated for merit award after they complete their initial orientation period. The initial orientation period is three months for non-exempt staff members and six months for exempt staff members. This is consistent with other University policies which make employees eligible for certain opportunities and/or benefits only after they complete their initial orientation period.
• Staff will be eligible to receive an award in consecutive years, but a special statement will be required from the Division Director to explain the reason the person is being nominated again. The nomination form will ask if the employee has received a Merit Award in the previous year and will provide adequate space for a detailed explanation.
• The merit pool committee will determine the means by which the awards are allocated.
• In keeping with the philosophy that the merit awards process should be an open one, all recipients of merit awards will be published along with comments regarding their accomplishment(s) that qualified them for the award. Names of those receiving awards will continue to be published in the Library Staff Newsletter.
• The program will continue indefinitely, with periodic reviews and possible modifications as we continue to gain experience with the program.
  
  Merit Nomination Form
  
  Microsoft Word (.doc) file