UK Libraries to Present Willis Award to Toni Greider
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 8, 2017) — University of Kentucky Libraries will honor Antoinette Paris “Toni” Greider, director of International Programs, with the 2017 Paul A. Willis Outstanding Faculty Award at tomorrow’s UK Libraries Spring Gala, at William T. Young Library.
Greider began her career at UK Libraries as a student assistant in September of 1970. After receiving her master’s degree in library science in 1973, she became a cataloger in the Agriculture Library (now the Agricultural Information Center) and then director of that library in 1974. After 31 years as director of the Agriculture Library, Greider was appointed associate dean for research and education for UK Libraries in 2005. In 2010, she assumed the role as director of International Programs.
The Willis Award winner has served in many capacities in both the library and the university. Over the years, Greider has served in various leadership roles in the library, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and across the university. She has been active in multiple organizations including the U.S. Agricultural Information Network, where she served as president from 1995-1998 and the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists where she edited their journal, Agricultural Information Worldwide, for 10 years and served as secretary/treasurer for eight years. She has edited four books and written multiple articles including one that was published in April of this year.
Greider developed her passion for international librarianship during her tenure as the library advisor (1980-1990) on the Western Agricultural Universities Education project in the then College of Agriculture. This project included the development of 10 universities on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. During her 10 years with the project, she had the opportunity to work in Indonesia and began focusing her professional service in the international arena. Currently in "phased retirement," Greider will fully retire June 30, 2017, with almost 44 years of professional service in UK Libraries.
The Willis Award is named for Paul A. Willis, former director of UK Libraries. A 1963 graduate of UK, Willis served as a library director for 41 years throughout the Southeast. He worked as a cataloger at the Library of Congress before beginning his master’s program in library science. In 1966, he began as a circulation librarian at the UK Law Library before becoming the university law librarian. He then served as director of UK Libraries from 1973 to 2003. He later served as University of South Carolina's dean of libraries from 2004 until 2007. During his career at UK, he created the Information Alliance consortium, planned construction of William T. Young Library, and expanded its collection and services.
As the premier research library in the Commonwealth, UK Libraries provides ever-expanding access to quality information resources, services and programs. UK Libraries locations include the William T. Young Library, the Agricultural Information Center, the Hunter M. Adams College of Design Library, the Education Library, the John A. Morris Library (Gluck Equine Research Center), the Kentucky Transportation Center Library, the Lucille C. Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center, the Medical Center Library, the Science and Engineering Library and the Special Collections Research Center.