Each month, the Ask a Librarian team picks an outstanding member that has shown exceptional participation in the program. September’s AAL SuperStar recipient is Leila Gibradze, Associate Director of Goldstein Library at Florida State University.

Leila’s support of the Academic and Collaborative Desks in Ask a Librarian has been phenomenal. She picks up many last-minute statewide shifts on the Academic and Collaborative Desks to ensure our Florida patrons have help, and she encourages her staff to do the same. Her team covers several regular statewide hours each week – including several hours on Sundays, when Ask a Librarian has fewest academic libraries staffing the statewide desk.

In addition, Leila coordinates a substantial local desk for Goldstein FSU patrons during all the hours the library is open: Monday – Thursday: 8 am to 9 pm; Fridays: 8 am to 4:30 pm; Saturdays: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm; Sundays: 1:30 pm to 9:30 pm. She also coordinates the AAL scheduling for Goldstein and ensures that all staff receive adequate training. They also encourage local faculty to incorporate Ask a Librarian into their lesson plans.

The Goldstein Library was one of the first AAL participating libraries when we began beta testing of the first software. Their commitment to AAL has been outstanding over the last 10 years. Without their dedication, AAL would not be the strong program it is today.

Thank you, Leila, for everything you do to make AAL a collaborative success. Please help me congratulate our September SuperStar, Leila Gibradze.