The University Libraries proudly announces that Mrs. Nabila Shehabeddine, Head of Research and Instruction Services at the University Libraries, has received the President's Service Excellence Award for 2019.
In the presence of loving family, friends and colleagues, Nabila received the award, along with two AUBMC staff members, during a ceremony held by President Fadlo Khuri on Tuesday, September 24 at 12:00 pm in Assembly Hall.
Presenting Nabila at the award ceremony, President Khuri said, “Over the last 20 and more years of service, she's been known to love her job and to love serving the community…Soft-spoken, knowledgeable and deburr, Nabila is committed to serving others … She is described as a repository of knowledge… and is behind many, if not all academic research and publications in AUB."
Dr. Lokman Meho, the University Librarian, congratulated Nabila, saying, “I am one of the many people who know Nabila from different points of view, and one of the many people who are impressed by her through all those points of view. She is a major reason why I liked and pursued this profession (that is, librarianship) and why I succeeded in it in graduate school, as a faculty, and as a scholar." Adding that "Nabila is a very reliable colleague who resolves any problems and issues calmly and single-handedly, never complaining about anything. She is a silent and resilient employee, with incredible work rate and ethics that speak loads for her. “
Fatmeh Charafeddine, Associate University Librarian for Research and Academic Collaboration Services describes Nabila as “unique and special in terms of the combination of good qualities she has, namely her strong dedication, deep knowledge, extreme helpfulness, and admirable humbleness. Adding “In many ways exceeding the requirements for the award, Nabila's accomplishments make her highly deserving of receiving the Service Excellence Award. “
Upon receiving the award, Nabila commented, “I am honored and humbled to receive this award, which is not only dedicated to me personally, but also to my colleagues, the silent, hard-working individuals who serve this institution and university so well. I would like to thank all those who contributed in any way for me to receive this award, wishing everyone the best in health, peace and career and wishing my AUB all the prosperity and success."
Shehabeddine joined the library team in 1990 as a Library Assistant at the Reference Department in Jafet Library. Afterwards, Nabila was promoted from Library Assistant to Assistant to the Librarian with more responsibilities. Since day one, Nabila held an unbreakable record for perfect user service and is considered one of the pillar employees at the Libraries, serving as a reference point for many, many students, faculty, and staff members.
Meanwhile, automation started at the library, and a drastic change in the way of using and searching library resources was bound to happen. Nabila remembers how the libraries moved from using the card catalog to the online catalog and from print indexes to online indexes and databases.
She remembers this phase saying “This transitory period modified the way of serving users and spreading of information literacy, and modified the way patrons and employees think about research."
But Nabila's dedication and commitment were constant and astounding through it all.
In 2005, she pursued a master's degree in Library and Information Science from Simmons College in the United States. The degree was sponsored by the library and by AUB. Upon returning, she joined the Information Services Department, which organized the library efforts of marketing the growing e-resources collection, outreaching, and offering library instruction.
Nabila played an important role in marketing the department and its services, resulting in the integration of information literacy in the Communication Skills program at AUB and in other departments and programs. In 2011, Nabila was in charge of the Instruction Program and continued to reach out to all stakeholders at AUB to promote the Library and its resources.
In 2018, she was promoted to Head of Research and Instruction Services Department at Jafet Library.
In addition to being a role model to many fellow colleagues, Nabila is the main person behind many of the department's initiatives, including:
- Andrew W Mellon Summer Seminar on Creative Use of Resources (2004-2008): A faculty workshop, part of the University Teaching Excellence initiative that brought together the University Libraries, Central for Teaching and Learning and IT- Academic Core Processes and Systems.
- Graduate Research, Thesis, and Publishing Series (2014-present): Graduate workshops offered in collaboration with the Graduate Council and the writing center.
- PBHL 306 A: Library and Literature Search Skills–Class Workshop (2018-2019): a two-day workshop offered for graduate students majoring in Public Health in collaboration with the School of Public Health and the Writing Center.
An article about the ceremony was posted on the AUB website.