The Jeff Cooper Award for Inspirational Information Professional of the Year is given to an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the workplace. The Award is named in honour of CoLRiC’s founder and is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to change lives and empower students.

To be acknowledged by one’s peers is the greatest professional compliment.

Jeff Cooper

It’s for individuals who are:

• Inspirational and enthusiastic
• A team player and/or leader
• Creative, resourceful and enterprising
• Dedicated to going that extra mile to deliver excellence and innovation
• The nominee can be at any level in the service, from library assistant to senior manager.

2021

The winner of the Jeff Cooper Inspirational Information Professional of the Year Award 2021 was Emma Luby from Bradford College.

In the nomination form, Emma’s proposer praised her “…enthusiasm, resourcefulness, … commitment to staff development, and … focus on student achievement” and went on to say “… she has been creative, dedicated and has provided opportunities to our students which otherwise may have been unavailable to them this year.”  Very many congratulations to Emma.

The Awards Committee also highly commended Iram Shireen from Calderdale College. Her nominators commented on her ability to be both “creative and realistic” and praised her ability to offer “… lots of encouragement to the students and [to] form… a very good rapport with both the tutor and students.”

2020

The winner of the 2020 Jeff Cooper Award for Inspirational Information Professional of the Year was Benjamin Poore, Library and Study Skills Assistant, from Leyton Sixth Form College library.

The judges felt that Ben is a “committed, creative and innovative individual, who is making a really impressive contribution to library service delivery”. In particular, the judges were impressed by the variety of student support activities in which Ben is involved and felt that his focus on facilitating outcomes for individual learners is truly inspirational.

In response to the news, Ben said

Of course it is very humbling to have my colleagues think so highly of me as to nominate me for the award – and doubly so that the judging panel would feel the same way. It is a real testament to the quality of the work that goes on here [Leyton Sixth Form College] that I am able to do things that help, I hope, enrich the life of the College and our students, and everything I have done has been thanks to wonderful colleagues.

2019

In 2019 Liz Organ was honoured with the award in celebration of her work with students with special educational needs and disabilities. Her ‘Share a Story’ initiative made reading more accessible and attractive to students, inspiring their curiosity, and encouraging them to explore their reactions to situations in the wider world. Her interventions have helped students with both their social and literacy skills.