John Watts, outreach librarian, named 2011 Mover and Shaker by Library Journal
John Watts, outreach librarian, was named a 2011 Mover and Shaker by Library Journal.
John Watts, outreach librarian, was recently named a Mover and Shaker by Library Journal, a widely-respected trade publication for librarians. This year, the coveted honor, which celebrates new professionals from around the world who are making noteworthy contributions to the field, was awarded to 50 librarians that have provided extraordinary service to the profession.
John was recognized in the category of advocacy for his work promoting the protection of online privacy. To learn about John’s campus-wide privacy campaign, read this article on the topic. John was also recognized for his exceptional work as a library marketer, an achievement made possible in part by his outgoing personality and background in theater. John credits his training as a performer, saying “I create experiences, keep it entertaining, think fast on my feet, and when I fall down, I get back up and go on with the show.” He has developed popular Kimbel Library outreach campaigns that include National Library Week and the De-stress Fest events.
John, who was nominated by Barbara Burd, dean of library services, is only the 7th librarian from South Carolina to receive this competitive award. When asked about his thoughts upon learning of the honor, John expressed his excitement at being recognized by his peers as someone who is passionate about librarianship. “Nobody was more excited than my mom, though,” he added.
View the Library Journal article detailing John’s achievements.
