Seneca Wins Award for
Explore Chicago Collections

Chicago Collections is proud to announce that Tracy Seneca has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 Center for Research Libraries (CRL) Primary Source Award for Access for her outstanding leadership of the Explore Chicago Collections (EXPLORE) initiative.

The Access award is presented to a library staff or faculty member whose work in promoting primary source materials individually or in collaborative initiatives has resulted in expanded discovery, appreciation, and usage, ultimately having a significant impact on research or instruction. Work on EXPLORE began in 2011 through funding support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and was chiefly led by Tracy J. Seneca, clinical associate professor and Digital Programs and Services Librarian at the University of Illinois at Chicago. From start to finish, Tracy’s background, expertise, and passion brought the needed leadership and consistency to this project that was required for its success. 

Tracy shared, “I'm delighted to see Explore Chicago Collections earn this recognition from the Center for Research Libraries! This honor is shared by quite a few people who worked to make the site what it is, including developers Esther Verreau and Allan Berry, my Discovery Systems Committee co-chairs Kate Flynn and Charles Blair, the members of the Discovery Systems Committee, consultant Dawne Tortorella and the team at Jell Creative. Kudos to all of them for making Chicago's archives so much more accessible. I'm proud of the result, and excited about the possibilities ahead for Chicago Collections.”

Read more about the award in CRL's Spring issue of FOCUS on Global Resources. On behalf of everyone at Chicago Collections, congratulations, and thank you, Tracy!