Dustin Durden, Senior Application Developer for the Digital Libraries, won a Division 3 Superior Accomplishment Award this spring. Durden leads the team supporting UF-hosted digital libraries (e.g., the UF Digital Collections, Digital Library of the Caribbean, and the Florida Digital Newspapers Library), leads activities related to the creation and support of software applications for the Libraries’ Digital Support Services Department and Digital Partnerships & Strategies Department, and develops digital library systems, applications, services and processes.
This award recognizes faculty and staff members who contribute outstanding and meritorious service, efficiency and/or economy, or have created an impact on the quality of life provided to students and employees. This program is designed to recognize outstanding faculty and staff for their dedication to their jobs and for going above and beyond to advance the mission of our great university and serve the community at-large.
Statistically, the division-level recipients of this award represent the top 1% of UF faculty and staff. Consequently, the library is recognized as an institution that seeks out and promotes top-tier work ethic, dedication and drive.
According to Durden’s nominators, during the past year they stepped up and engaged in new areas of digital library development and played a critical role in moving the Libraries’ system forward with needed enhancements. His work has optimized the system and made it easier for thousands of library users worldwide to access the research and historical materials they need.
Without Durden’s contributions over the past year, the Libraries would not be at the point where they are able to offer the UF community access to the wealth of digital library content that the system houses.