Rachel Scott, Professor and Head of Acquisitions and Cataloging Services, has been awarded the Johns Hopkins University Press Award for Best Article. Rachel and her co-author, Mitchell Scott, were named the 22^nd annual recipients of the award by the editorial board of portal: Libraries and the Academy. The authors will each receive a commemorative item and a $250 cash prize from the Johns Hopkins University Press.

“A Comprehensive Study of Library-Led Textbook Affordability Initiatives in the United States” presents findings from a survey and interviews investigating library-led textbook affordability initiatives in the United States. The results document diverse considerations and divergences in workflows, challenges librarians face in establishing and maintaining textbook affordability programs, and the intersection of these initiatives with library and institutional strategies. Findings suggest that these programs have grown in number and scale over the past few years, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, and are sustained—even without permanent, designated funding—due to consistently positive perceptions about their impact on student success, just-in-time delivery, and alignment with library and institutional goals.

Speaking about the importance of this research, one editorial board member noted, “This article is so thorough and thoughtfully done, as well as being of practical use. Many libraries purchase textbooks, but this article displays the wide variety of processes and policies for these programs. It demonstrates the need for more sharing of information at the same time that it begins to fill this gap. Librarians don’t get enough chances to discuss in detail how we conduct regular operations, and this article helps us learn about each other’s work.”

“Receiving the award for this article was meaningful to me because textbook affordability initiatives have proven an important way for technical services librarians like me to contribute to student engagement and success. Sometimes technical services work feels distanced from the classroom, but acquiring and providing access to materials assigned in courses is a very material support for student success,” said Rachel.

Congratulations to Rachel for this outstanding recognition!

For more information, see the editors’ note in the July 2026 issue of portal: Libraries and the Academy and listen to the authors’ May 2026 interview.

Bethany Anderson, Natural and Applied Sciences Archivist, has been selected to receive a 2026 Campus Distinguished Promotion Award from the Office of the Provost. Anderson is just one of five at Illinois who have been promoted to associate professor to receive this distinction. During its annual promotion review process, the Campus Committee on Promotion and Tenure identifies exceptional cases of scholars whose contributions have been extraordinary in terms of quality of work and overall achievement. A small percentage of scholars at each level of tenured faculty promotion (associate professor and full professor) are selected to receive Campus Distinguished Promotion Awards. Each receives a discretionary fund to support their scholarly activities. Anderson will be promoted to associate professor in August 2026, pending Board of Trustees approval.

Anderson first joined the University of Illinois Archives in 2012 and has held her current position since 2019. She has a Master of Science in Information Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Arts in Near Eastern Art and Archaeology from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Michigan. Anderson is also currently a Ph.D. student in the department of history, focusing on the history of science and anthropology. She has been active in several professional archival and historical associations, including the Society of American Archivists (SAA) and the International Council on Archives (ICA). She has also held editorial positions with The American Archivist and Comma, and currently serves as Co-Editor for the Archival Futures Series and as the lead Reviews Editor for the History of Anthropology Review.

Anderson’s research focuses on scientific archives, computational archival science, the history of anthropology, science and technology studies, cybernetics, and women and gender in science. Her work seeks to increase accessibility and amplify marginalized voices in science, including through the Women in Science Lecture Series, which she has co-organized over the past six years. Anderson’s previous projects include No Longer at the Margins: A Digital Project to Amplify Access to the Archives of Women in Science, which received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Doris Duke Native American Oral History Revitalization Project.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award. The University of Illinois is a wonderful place to work and grow as an archivist and a faculty member. I have had incredible opportunities here and am grateful for the support of my colleagues and this institution,” said Anderson.

Congratulations to Anderson for this exceptional recognition!

Krista Gray, Archives Program Officer for the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections, has been named a recipient of this year’s Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Award (CSEA). This prestigious annual honor recognizes the exceptional contributions of staff who support the university in a wide range of essential ways. 

Gray has a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan and joined the Library in 2015. She is being recognized for her initiative, technical expertise, and leadership on several complex projects. Gray has been instrumental in the Archon to ArchivesSpace migration, tackling its most challenging aspects with skill and persistence. Her thoughtful communication and collaborative approach have also strengthened preparations for the new Archives & Special Collections building. In addition, her innovative solutions and commitment to accessible metadata have streamlined workflows and enhanced discovery and access to our collections.

Lynne Thomas, Head of the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, noted, “Krista’s commitment to improving our systems both in terms of digital and physical infrastructure and our ability to leverage them as users has been unparalleled, and I was delighted to join several other colleagues in documenting this stellar work at the campus level for her nomination. Please join me in congratulating Krista on this well-deserved achievement.” Gray was honored at an April 30 campus presentation, along with 14 other recipients of CSEA awards. Along with the recognition, the designation comes with a $1,500 cash award.

“This recognition is a testament to [TLAS’s] outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to fostering student success within our academic community. [TLAS’s] dedication, innovative approaches and tireless efforts have set them apart as true champions of student achievement,” said the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost.

Additionally, TLAS was awarded the Illinois Promise Campus Partner Award by the Scholar Support Programs team. Illinois Promise is an award package offered to newly admitted students at Illinois who have the greatest amount of financial need. Scholars join a diverse community of students who benefit from uniquely tailored resources and programs throughout their time on campus. TLAS partners annually with the Scholar Support Programs team to host the “Main Library Tour and Duck, Duck, Food Truck” event, which introduces students to Library resources to help them thrive.

“Our team in Scholar Support Programs (SSP) never loses sight of the fact that our goals are impossible to reach without the dedicated work of our many campus partners. We have always felt that the TLAS team has exemplified what we look for in a campus partner: systems, services, and people anchored in serving the whole student and offering opportunities tailored to meet the unique needs of the students we serve,” said Richard Porter, Assistant Director of Scholar Support Programs.

From assisting researchers at the Information Desk to hosting signature events like De-Stress Fest, the TLAS team provides inclusive services and spaces that support student academic and life success. TLAS faculty and staff teach students curriculum-integrated research and information literacy skills, provide advanced research and scholarship preparation through the Savvy Researcher workshop series, and offer the Library 101 eText and other online guides that provide a self-paced introduction to the Library and core research resources. TLAS hosts events, workshops, and ongoing support services that reflect the University of Illinois’ commitment to collaboration, inclusion, empowerment, and wellness. By meeting both personal and basic needs—through resources like the food pantry and family study rooms—and fostering creativity and wellness through activities like craft making and stress management workshops, TLAS creates a welcoming environment that supports the diverse needs of students.

A warm congratulations to the TLAS team for these well-deserved recognitions!