Vini Kuker has accepted the position of evening/weekend manager in the Harold Schiffman Music Library (HSML). Kuker received their master’s degree in library and information studies from UNC Greensboro’s School of Education in 2019 and graduated summa cum laude from UNCG in 2017 with a bachelor of arts in music from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
According to Sarah Dorsey, department head of the HSML and associate professor, “This pairs two very pertinent degrees for the position and Vini is well prepared and experienced.”
In 2019, Kuker won the Outstanding Student Library Worker Award from University Libraries for their contributions to the HSML, where they had worked as a student employee since 2015. Kuker also won the 2019 Graduate Student Employee of the Year from UNCG Career Services. This evidence of excellence continues beyond graduation.
In the HSML, Kuker supervised other student workers as a student manager, cataloged library materials and helped plan a collection shift. Additionally, they assisted Dorsey with a musicology course. Serving as a music intern, Kuker worked on grading for the class. They also organized and analyzed course pretests and posttests to create data visualizations.
Last year Kuker was able to work as a temporary employee in the HSML when one of the staff left. Their deep knowledge of the HSML and procedures there were invaluable. “Vini works above and beyond to help our patrons,” said Dorsey. “In these COVID-19 times, they have been essential in both our online and in-person protocols.” Dorsey declares that the team of Kuker and Evan O’Neal, as day manager in the HSML, is a dream.
Kuker also won the SEMLA (Southeast Chapter of the Music Library Association) Travel Grant in 2017, traveling to New Orleans for the Annual Meeting for learning and networking with colleagues from around the Southeast. Interested in video game music, they have written papers and hope to continue with that research. Kuker can be reached at ndkuker@uncg.edu.