April 26, 2010, Wheaton, IL – Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital’s Medical Library Director and Webmaster, Nalini Mahajan, has won the 2010 Librarian of the Year Award from DuPage Library System (DLS). This award will be presented on Monday, May 17, 2010 during the luncheon for DLS Day held at Pheasant Run. Mahajan, along with award winners for Support Staff and Friend of the Year, were chosen by the DLS Board at its recent April 15 meeting.

The Librarian of the Year Award is presented to an outstanding risk-taker or innovator that contributes to the field of librarianship and library development. Mahajan was nominated for the award by Dr. Kathleen Ruroede, Vice President of Quality and Research at Marianjoy, for her exemplary passion and leadership. “She’s a risk taker, change agent, and full of energy and enthusiasm,” notes Ruroede. “She has helped make the library one of the top libraries in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.”

As a leader and front-line worker, Mahajan is very passionate about her profession. “To be recognized for doing what you love is special,” states Mahajan. “I am grateful to my colleagues and to Marianjoy for their support and their trust to help advance the library to where it is today.”

Mahajan’s career spans more than 35 years and she has broken ground on more than one front. She participates in national and international meetings, has presented research papers, and has taught continuing education courses at local, regional, and national meetings. Mahajan is also heavily involved in the development of multiple websites including the medical library’s website, Information Connections, a website for parents of children with developmental disabilities and chronic conditions that provides access to valuable resources and accurate clinical information, and Ability Links, which is an award-winning website that provides job opportunities and resources for people with disabilities.

Nalini is a part-time faculty member at College of DuPage Library and received “Outstanding Part-time Faculty Award” in 1996. In 2002 she was a recipient of “Scroll of Exemplary Service” for the Hospital Libraries Section of the Medical Library Association.

She is very active in Medical Library Associations and Special Library Association (national library associations) and has held several offices; currently she is the chairperson of the Vendor Relations Committee for Special Library Association. She also serves on the Library Board of Advisors for Doody's Review Service, an electronic journal and unique collection development tool featuring the most extensive database of expert reviews of books and software in the health sciences.

The Marianjoy Medical Library is located within Marianjoy’s Outpatient Pavilion in Wheaton, Illinois, and provides comprehensive information services to Marianjoy clinicians, staff, patients, and community members. The specialty library supports patient care, education, research, and community service activities. For additional information, please visit www.marianjoylibrary.org.

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