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A humble Toowoomba librarian has been written into the history books after winning the Queensland Library Achiever of the Year Award.
Darling Downs Health employee Daniel McDonald has worked at the Toowoomba Hospital library for more than 16 years, and said he feels grateful to be recognised.
“I started shelving books in my high school library when I was 14 and have never really stopped. It’s the only career I know,” Mr McDonald said.
“I like finding answers, I like making sense of knowledge, I like helping other people understand how information works.
“Working alongside my fellow librarian Patrick, we help answer any questions clinical staff may have as they come in seeking to better themselves through education and better their services through research.
“Every day I see it as my job to provide our amazing clinicians with clear knowledge so they can do their job of providing amazing care to our community.”
The Queensland Library Achiever of the Year Award is an annual merit prize aimed at encouraging recognition of an individual working in any sector of the library and information profession.
Unbeknownst to Mr McDonald, he was nominated for the award by colleague Rob Penfold from Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.
“The award was presented at a recent conference I attended at the State Library of Queensland,” Mr McDonald said.
“I was attending the conference as an audience member and speaker, and had no idea I was nominated or had won until the actual presentation towards the end of the conference.”
Acting Executive Director of Medical Services Dr Hwee Sin Chong congratulated Daniel on his incredible achievement.
“Darling Downs Health is full of talented and dedicated staff so it’s always wonderful to see someone’s hard work be celebrated,” Dr Chong said.
While Daniel’s passion for his job is clear, there are also some misconceptions about the work he’d like to clear up.
“We don’t read books all day, we don’t shoosh people, and we don’t fine for overdues,” Mr McDonald said.