Congratulations are in order for Ann Combs, who has received the status of Distinguished Academic Librarian. As Ebling Library’s Director, Julie Schneider wrote, “Since 1995 Ann has provided extraordinary service to the faculty, staff and students of the Schools of Medicine & Public Health, Nursing, and Pharmacy and to the University Hospital and Clinics. Ann’s positive impact on colleagues and her contributions to the library profession throughout those nearly 20 years of service are indicative of her dedication in providing the best service possible.”
Last year Ann won the Campus Libraries Academic Staff Service Award as a reflection of service acumen. This year’s Distinguished Prefix indicates that the University especially values the expertise, creative thinking, mentoring and overall achievement she has attained in an Academic position.
Ann currently leads the Basic Science Team at Ebling, developing and providing library products and services for the Basic Science Departments and Programs of the School of Medicine and Public Health. She has also served as the Reference and Research Coordinator at Ebling Library and as Manager of the Weston Clinical Science Library. Her campus career began at the Middleton Health Sciences Library.
Additionally, Ann initiated or collaborated on numerous digital projects at the local and regional level. She has stewarded exhibitions on loan from the National Library of Medicine, and brought NIH scientists to Madison to teach specialized genetics databases. Ann has published in peer reviewed journals, and presented posters, papers, and workshops at regional and national conferences. She continues her involvement with the Alumni Association of UW-Madison’s School of Library and Information Studies.
Ann strives to match exact resources and information with the patron while showing how to access and manage that information most effectively. She is truly the embodiment of the Wisconsin Idea: staying current in her own field, health sciences librarianship, while finding ways to transfer that information to constituents for excellence in research, teaching, and clinical care. Countless kudos to our Ann. Well done!
Photo of Ann by Ebling’s Michael Venner