3/20/03

AU LIBRARIES DEAN TO GET DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

AUBURN -- Sheri Downer, interim dean of Auburn University Libraries, will receive the Distinguished Service Award at the Alabama Library Association Annual Convention in Mobile in April.

Downer's role in making cutting edge technology available to library patrons throughout Alabama was cited as one of the reasons she was selected for the award.

"Receiving this award is a great honor for me because I was chosen by my peers," Downer said. "It means that those within my profession feel that I am doing my job as a librarian to make service and technology in Alabama's libraries a priority."

During her 25-year career at AU, Downer has made contributions to AU Libraries, the Alabama Library Association and other Alabama library groups and projects.

She helped obtain a major Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grant for the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries. The grant, along with matching funds from AU, the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries and the University of Alabama, will be used to fund a major digitization project in libraries and archives throughout the state.

Downer was also instrumental in the development and funding of the Alabama Virtual Library, an online database of major resources available to all Alabamians.

The Distinguished Service Award is given annually to a librarian who has shown leadership in projects that contribute to the development of library service in Alabama.

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mar03:AU-downer

CONTACT: Downer, 334/844-1718.