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Harrell Library celebrates 10 years of honoring partners, supporters with READ Award

Beginning in 2011, the Harrell Health Sciences Library READ Poster Recognition Award was created to recognize individuals from Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center who are strong library supporters. This year, the library celebrated 10 years of the READ Awards with past and current honorees present.

Every year, the honorees choose their favorite book or a book that made a significant impact in their lives. They are photographed with their book for a poster that hangs in the library for the following year. In years past, the READ posters were revealed at a ceremony held in the library to allow each awardee a chance to share a book of their choice and the reason they chose to have it represented on their poster. For the second year in row, the library hosted this program virtually via Zoom.

This year’s ceremony started by celebrating the 10th anniversary of the awards with a short video that highlighted past honorees. After the video a number of past honorees contributed a few words about their experience with the library and the READ awards.

Watch the 10th anniversary video here

Kelly Thormodson, Associate Dean for Library and Information Services and Library Director, introduced this year’s READ honorees. The posters were virtually revealed and the awardees presented their book of choice. This year’s READ posters are currently hanging in the Harrell Library for patrons to view.

2021 READ honorees and books

Paul Nelson, MD
Consultant, Penn State Health University Park Campus
Professor, Neurological Surgery
Book: “Keep Sharp” by Sanjay Gupta MD, Simon & Shuster, 2021

Cheryl Attinger, MBA
Director of Finance for Educational Affairs
Director of Student Financial Aid, College of Medicine
Instructor, Department of Public Health Sciences
Book: “Bird-By-Bird” by Anne Lamont

Susan Glod, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Woodward Center for Excellence in Health Sciences Education
Book: “George and Martha: Five Stories about Two Great Friends,” written and illustrated by James Marshall

Read the honorees’ statements about why they picked their books

Learn more about the READ Award Program and nomination rules

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