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Crystal Buss, a library services assistant at Polk Library, has been named the recipient of the STAR Award for June 2008.

Buss, who joined the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s staff in 2004, was nominated by Jeanne Foley, head of Access Services at Polk Library.

Foley’s nomination of Buss follows:

“I nominate Crystal Buss for the STAR award in recognition of the many hours she has worked to make Polk Library’s first three ‘free coffee during finals week’ (events) successful. Crystal undertook additional responsibilities with students in mind.

“During the last three semesters’ finals week in May and December, Crystal Buss takes on an extra duty in her evening library position: student lifesaver, also known as barista.

“Polk Library has hosted ‘24/5’ hours for many years. I shared with the director that a couple of UW system libraries were offering free coffee to students studying late nights in the library during finals week and asked to try it out here. It seemed like a worthwhile experiment, but the burden would fall mainly on one staff person, Crystal, who works the evening shift. Crystal agreed to give it a try.

“The experiment has gone over very well. In three semesters, over 4,000 cups of coffee have been brewed to keep students awake during Polk Library’s 24/5 finals week. Crystal’s new ‘duties’ included supply shopping, training student employees in coffee brewing, setting up and tallying up nightly numbers. Crystal also coordinated an additional treat this year — giving out 600 cookies from the library and the Campus Lutheran Ministry on Wednesday night.

“For the last three years, Crystal has worked as the nights/weekends student supervisor and building security staff. Prior to that Crystal, worked in Access Services during her whole undergraduate program. A few months after her graduation with a communications major, she filled in a vacancy in Access Services, took the civil service test, interviewed and scored the job.

“Throughout the year, Crystal volunteers in other extracurricular library events, such as the annual April book sale and the September Murder Mystery.

“Crystal began working on her master’s degree in library and information science at UW-Milwaukee in Spring 2007 and expects to graduate in 2009.”

Winners of the Star Award receive a framed certificate, a reserved parking space for one month and a gift from University Books & More. The award for exceptional performance is presented each month to a member of the classified staff who has worked at least six months at UW Oshkosh.