University Library

Northwestern University
1970 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208

February 12, 2014

RE: Employee of the Year Nomination John Brdecka
Maudell Gaines
NU Human Relations
720 University Place #21
Evanston, Illinois 60208
Dear Maudell:
This letter supports the nomination of the referenced nominee for Northwestern University Employee of the Year.
During the past year he has shown extraordinary focus by the manner in which he consistently works with us in a
collaborative manner to improve our Herskovits Library space so that we can improve our services to our users.
The end result is better service to Northwestern students and faculty using the resources of the Herskovits Library.
I can provide three examples of such collaboration in the past year: (1) We acquired new reference area furniture
and a plasma screen that required advance planning, assembling of furniture, addition of outlets & PC connections,
removal of old furniture, etc. He managed all of this quickly and efficiently for us so that our users receive a more
positive experience in our reference area. (2) We were required to vacate in a hurry a seminar room that was needed
for other purposes that housed unique Africana collections and provided workspace for important library
operations. We were given two weeks to vacate and relocate. He worked tirelessly with us to make it happen in a
way that allowed our workflows to continue with very minimal interruption and reposition the collections in a way
that provides easy access when users make requests. (3)We store materials in process and unique materials in a
number of closed carrels. He worked with us to envision how we could increase the storage capability of the spaces
by adding additional shelving and rearranging existing shelving and then implemented the changes.
Another very significant project in which he played a central role was the project to replace all the windows in the
University Library. There are windows in the Herskovits Library that are in public spaces, in staff offices, in faculty
closed carrels, and in storage rooms that house some of the most valuable collections in the University Library. This
means that there was a broad constituency interested in and in many cases worrying about the project. He was
exemplary in his role communicating to us on a daily (often more frequently) basis the what, when and how of the
project. He responded immediately to questions, concerns etc. and relayed them as needed to the contractor
quickly reporting back when necessary. He made my role as department head and chief communicator to my staff
and our users so much easier because of his careful attention to detail and communication.
I can continue with additional examples but will stop here. In conclusion I would like to say that I can think of no
one in my 23 years of experience at Northwestern as head of the Herskovits Library that is more deserving of
Employee of the Year recognition than the person I recommend to you.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like additional examples of exemplary service that has resulted in
extraordinary outcomes.
Sincerely yours,
David L. Easterbrook
George and Mary LeCron Foster Curator, Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies