On behalf of the Board of Regents, I am pleased to present a KUDOS Award to Julie Stall, Continuing Resources Associate, for the Calvin T. Ryan Library at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Julie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Kearney State College in 1983 working as a student at Calvin T. Ryan Library, then moving to full-time in 1984. In the four decades since, Julie has witnessed multiple administrations and reorganizations in library services with changes from card catalogs to the digital age.
She has shepherded the Library’s Serials and Continuing Resources collections through the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Her role changed significantly, from print-management to digital management, including transitions from multiple software platforms. Working with her supervisor and the business office she certifies bill payment, licensing, government protocols, and data management.
She shared, "I feel fortunate that opportunities aligned with my strengths. I enjoy the tasks of processing materials and helping students find what they needed.”
Jumping in whenever challenges arise, she and the staff faced a massive mold outbreak during the pandemic with collection integrity endangered. They saved everything. As a significant contributor to physical collection changes, she was vital during the recent renovation and remains vital with changes in digital materials.
Her deep knowledge of historic library practices led to overall success during the migration of the University’s data systems. Past data mergers were muddled by former practices that were hard to understand.
David Arredondo, Collections Services Librarian, says, “Julie is a joy to work with. Her dedication to and care for the UNK students and community is shown through her organizational skills and attention to detail. She actively seeks to learn and increase proficiency in her work, without expecting recognition. This is a well-deserved award! Julie has been a steadfast presence here in the library. She helps all of us be better at our work – me most of all!”
With Julie today are; her husband, Jerry Stall; her supervisor David Arredondo and Evan Boyd, Dean of the Library. Congratulations to Julie Stall, an admired colleague, willing to embrace change and new responsibilities while developing new skills, making her a vital part of the Calvin T. Ryan Library. We are very fortunate to have her on our team.