Brad Marcum, Eastern Kentucky University librarian, has received the Kentucky Library Association’s Outstanding Academic Librarian award.
Marcum received the award at the Kentucky Library Association Annual Conference, held Oct. 25 in Bowling Green, Ky.
The Kentucky Library Association encourages and recognizes high standards in providing library service throughout the commonwealth. This prestigious award is given to a member who has been nominated by a colleague for showing excellence within the field.Marcum said he is most proud of his work and publications regarding distance learning, as well as his collaborations with regional campuses, e-Campus, and distance students.
Marcum has been a reference and instruction librarian at EKU for 18 years. His primary focus beyond the day-to-day of library instruction and helping students in their research is distance learning. This involves the integration of library services into online courses by working with Blackboard administrators, e-Campus and the Instructional Design Center.
“Seeing that light come on in someone’s eyes who didn’t understand something and now they do, that’s why I do what I do,” said Marcum
He also provides library instruction to EKU’s regional campuses. Marcum is from eastern Kentucky, and is familiar with the challenges confronting regional campus and distance students. This insight fuels his dedication to providing support to these often at-risk students.
“I’ve just been doing my job and apparently someone noticed. It’s all about helping people, that’s what we librarians do most,” he said.
Marcum graduated from EKU in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Loss Prevention and Safety, followed by a master’s in Library Science from the University of Kentucky in 2003.