May 27, 2003

UM Librarian Ann Masnik Receives John W. King
Staff Disability Achievement Award

Ann Masnik, the UM Libraries’ Diversity Coordinator, was awarded the John W. King Staff Disability Achievement Award on Monday, May 19, as the UM President’s Commission on Disability Issues honored four campus individuals “who have made significant contributions to the quality of life for persons with disabilities at the University of Maryland.” 

Introduced as “a tireless advocate of diversity,” Masnik was cited for promoting a better understanding of diversity though efforts, such as her “Season of Lights” program.  She also played a key role in the production of “Writers Block: Disability on Campus”—a video to promote awareness of the experiences of disabled students on a college campus. 

As a strong advocate for disability awareness, Masnik is working with the Libraries’ Diversity Committee and other campus units to plan a campus event for November 2003 that will highlight disabilities in the arts. 

It was most fitting for a librarian—especially Ann Masnik who worked with John King in her early days in Hornbake Library—to be honored with the John W. King Staff Disability Achievement Award.  John King (1948-1993) gave seven years of service in Hornbake Library as a reference librarian specializing in services to the handicapped.  During those years he helped  build the Libraries’ African-American collection; created a special library facility for the hearing and visually impaired and trained students to use the equipment; brought the TDD/TTY phone system to the Libraries and helped to establish policies for aiding the disabled in the Libraries.
 

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