Marion J. Wells Library Service Award

The Marion J. Wells Library Service Award recognizes a student of outstanding academic achievement who has consistently demonstrated exceptional work performance as an employee of the SUNY Brockport library.

Friends and colleagues of Mrs. Wells established this award when she retired in 1976 to honor her outstanding service to Brockport during her 16 years with the college’s library and to affirm the importance of student assistants to successful library operation.

Mrs. Wells joined the library staff in 1960 after she received her bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College (MA) and her master’s in library science from Syracuse University. She was promoted to associate librarian in 1963 and to the rank of librarian in 1974. During her 16 years at Brockport, Mrs. Wells served with distinction in several capacities, including acting director of Library Services in 1965 and again in the 1968-1969 academic year. From 1969 until her retirement in 1976, she served as the head of Public Services. Following her retirement, she was designated librarian emerita.

During the years of the College’s rapid expansion in the 1960s, Mrs. Wells provided continuity of leadership, establishing and maintaining standards of service. Her foresight and perseverance are credited with directly contributing to the current library building, and her colleagues acknowledge that her dignity, sensitivity, and fairness fostered a rare esprit de corps among them.

The Marion J. Wells Library Service Award honors her dedication to service and her great interest in students by recognizing students who consistently demonstrate outstanding work performance in Brockport’s library.

Applicants should be current library student employees who are upper-class students, have at least one year of service with the library, and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. Eligible applicants also will have demonstrated consistently outstanding work performance and a high level of contribution to library services.