The Assembly selection panel chose Barbara Opar 鈥73, G鈥74, librarian for architecture and French language and literature, as the 2023 recipient of the Libraries鈥 Distinguished Service Award. The award was presented at the Libraries鈥 holiday and recognition event on Dec. 20.
From left: Michael Speaks, dean of the School of Architecture, Barbara Opar, librarian for architecture and French language and literature, and David Seaman, dean of 黑料不打烊 Libraries
The award is a 30+ year tradition recognizing Libraries staff who have made a significant contribution to both the Libraries and the broader 黑料不打烊 community. A cross-departmental panel of Libraries staff judged nomination entries and selected the recipients based on outstanding service to Libraries鈥 users, excellence in professional skills and significant contributions to the Libraries鈥 community. The Distinguished Service Award, which is open to all Libraries employees, allows peer recognition based on nominations, a recommendation from the person鈥檚 supervisor and recommendations from at least two members of the University community.
Barbara Opar has been an integral part of the development of King + King Architecture Library, from dedicating the space and shaping its collections, to hiring and training excellent students, and serving daily on the front lines triaging questions from the University community. Faculty in the School of Architecture and French language and literature program highlighted and applauded Opar for her dedication to students over the years through teaching, mentorship and聽 commitment to helping them succeed.
One person wrote in their nomination letter that 鈥淏arbara instilled within me a passion for scholarly research that continues to shape my worldview. Like an astute and persistent detective on a case, she showed me how to track down the most minute and hard-to-find items to support my objectives. She served not only as a pragmatic role model, but as a collegial ideal.鈥
Other contributions that colleagues found notable include Opar鈥檚 role in organizing the University鈥檚 annual French Colloquium and advocating for underserved voices in the architecture community. Beyond the University, Opar has contributed to the profession across several decades and received prestigious awards such as the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Architecture School Librarians. One letter of support noted Opar鈥檚 50 years of service to the Libraries and the University.
