When University Staff Council members arrived at the Library to present David Uspal, senior web specialist for Library Services and Scholarly Applications, with a Work Process Improvement (WPI) award, Uspal’s colleagues may have wondered whether it was for his wheelchair-accessible touchscreen near the library’s entrance or perhaps his imaginative campus map, featured on that same touchscreen. Actually, his interactive map of the Library earned him this distinction.

Uspal’s innovative library map accomplishes two major tasks: First, the map (see “Building Map” link on the library’s homepage) makes it easy for staff to show (instead of just tell) students how to access the adjacent building, the location of the stairs and even the section of shelving that holds the book they need. When they see how easy and fun-to-use the map is, students typically say things like, “that’s cool!””

Second, Uspal has added a “Find on map” link to the catalog record for each book, magazine, DVD, etc. in the Library. That link connects each item’s catalog record to the interactive map, showing the item’s location and even highlighting the section of shelving that holds that item.

David Uspal’s interactive map of Falvey Memorial Library has improved the library staff’s ability to quickly and effectively direct students, faculty and staff to the library resources they seek. His map also empowers all library patrons to find library materials with efficiency and autonomy.

Gerald Dierkes is an information services specialist for the Information and Research Assistance team, senior copyeditor for the Communication and Publications team, and a liaison to the Department of Theater.