Circulating Our Thanks

Dedicated employees ensure the success of the Library - you are the most valuable asset we have! “Thank you” are two small words but they go a long way in showing each of us that we are seen and are valued by others.

This employee appreciation program, Circulating Our Thanks, is designed to facilitate appreciation within the Library. Appreciation can come from all directions and Library employees are encouraged to share their thanks to their coworkers any time throughout the year. Yes, this includes Student Library Employees (SLEs)! We hope this program will be a sustainable and convenient way for you to send notes of appreciation to colleagues throughout the Library!

What happens when I submit a note of appreciation?

Your message will go directly to the person you are thanking and a copy will be shared with LHRD. LHRD will occasionally review the submissions to ensure correct emails are used and gauge use of the program.

At the end of each semester (Spring, Summer, Fall) the Library will share the names of all employees who have been appreciated and also hold a drawing for a $75 gift card from the Library. (Each employee appreciated will be entered once in the drawing and three names will be randomly chosen by LHRD each semester.) At the same time, LHRD will send to supervisors and managers a report with employees in their units who have been appreciated, by whom and for what reason.

How it works

Complete this form providing your name/email, the name/email of the person you wish to appreciate and the reason for the appreciation.

The form structures your message in the form of a four sentence thank you note.

1. Statement one is the Opening Sentence. You may choose from existing options or simply leave this blank. If you do not select an option, no opening statement will be added to the email. (If you want to suggest a new opening sentence option email hrd@library.berkeley.edu and we can add it.)
2. Statement two is the Descriptive Statement. This is the sentence where you tell your colleague what they did that you appreciate. Be very specific about what they did and how they did it. And remember to write in the first person point of view. For example:
   • “You carefully reviewed my PowerPoint presentation on (topic) and gave me constructive feedback to improve it.”
   • “You spent three hours helping me organize returned books.”
3. Statement three is the Impact Statement. This is where you tell your coworker how their action helped someone else and who. For example:
   • “Your time and attention helped ensure that I presented a thorough and accurate presentation to a group of Berkeley undergraduates.”
   • “Your efforts helped speed up the process and helped me catch up with the backlog.”
4. Statement 4 is the Closing Statement. You may choose from existing options or leave the option blank. If you do not select an option, no closing statement will be added to the email. (If you want to suggest a new option closing sentence email hrd@library.berkeley.edu and we can add it.)
5. Proofread your message since the form sends it exactly as you have written it. If you used autofill feature, be sure to double check the data in the name and email fields. Otherwise, you might send your thank you note to yourself!
6. Click the arrow at the bottom. Your message has been sent!
7. You will receive a confirmation that your message was sent along with a copy of the message. If you would like to share this with the employee’s supervisor, please feel free to do so.
8. Make a plan to regularly appreciate your co-workers. Maybe put a note on your calendar to consider who helped you this month!

Here’s what the above message looks like when sent:

Subject: Circulating Our Thanks

Dear Recipient First Name:

I want to send you this note of thanks. You carefully reviewed my PowerPoint presentation on (Topic) and gave me constructive feedback to improve it. Your time and attention helped ensure that I presented a thorough and accurate presentation to a group of Berkeley undergraduates.

Your efforts really matter!

Sincereley,

Susan Swarts