Dr. A.S. Kirk Curnutt Honored with Book Token Award

Dr. Kirk Curnutt, Professor and Chair of TROY's English Department, has been honored with the University's Book Token Award for the support he has demonstrated for the TROY Libraries.

Kirk Curnutt, a professor in the English Department at Troy University, has been awarded the University’s Book Token Award for his support of the TROY Libraries.

Kirk Curnutt, a professor in the English Department at Troy University, has been awarded the University’s Book Token Award for his support of the TROY Libraries.

The award, which is presented periodically to faculty who provide service to and support of Troy University Libraries, was given during a presentation on Wednesday at the Troy Campus Library. The award was last presented in 2018.

The award, which is presented periodically to faculty who provide service to and support of Troy University Libraries, was given during a presentation on Wednesday at the Troy Campus Library. The award was last presented in 2018.

“Dr. Curnutt is an example of someone who is the epitome of what a university professor should be,” said Dr. Chris Shaffer, Dean of the Troy University Libraries. “He is a scholar who is an expert on Hemingway, but he also writes his own fiction. He is brilliant, but he also finds it easy to relate to students and colleagues. He has been a tremendous asset to the University Libraries throughout his career, partnering on grants and projects. He also recommends additions to our collection such as books and databases, and then gives students assignments that ensure that they are used. We are grateful to him for all his support over the years.”

“Dr. Curnutt is an example of someone who is the epitome of what a university professor should be,” said Dr. Chris Shaffer, Dean of the Troy University Libraries. “He is a scholar who is an expert on Hemingway, but he also writes his own fiction. He is brilliant, but he also finds it easy to relate to students and colleagues. He has been a tremendous asset to the University Libraries throughout his career, partnering on grants and projects. He also recommends additions to our collection such as books and databases, and then gives students assignments that ensure that they are used. We are grateful to him for all his support over the years.”

Curnutt, who has been a TROY faculty member since starting at the Montgomery Campus in 1993, and in 2016 relocated to the Troy Campus to oversee English offerings throughout the entire university system, said he was honored to be recognized as both a friend and colleague of the library.

Curnutt, who has been a TROY faculty member since starting at the Montgomery Campus in 1993, and in 2016 relocated to the Troy Campus to oversee English offerings throughout the entire university system, said he was honored to be recognized as both a friend and colleague of the library.

“It was a nice acknowledgment of both thirty-plus years of scholarly work and pedagogical effort,” he said. “I usually try not to be noticed when I slip into the library but in this case, it was great to have people know who I am.”

“It was a nice acknowledgment of both thirty-plus years of scholarly work and pedagogical effort,” he said. “I usually try not to be noticed when I slip into the library but in this case, it was great to have people know who I am.”

He said that when he first began teaching at the TROY Montgomery Campus, it was before the internet and academics would spend entire days in the library. He was nervous about being able to do his research because of the then-modest library, but the staff went above and beyond to help him.

He said that when he first began teaching at the TROY Montgomery Campus, it was before the internet and academics would spend entire days in the library. He was nervous about being able to do his research because of the then-modest library, but the staff went above and beyond to help him.

“I was fortunate to meet a staff devoted to helping faculty and students in any way they could,” he said. “For me that meant tons and tons of interlibrary loans, and of books not easy to find. A couple of years ago I needed a book that was held in exactly one library in South Carolina, and they initially didn’t want to lend it. It was Kelly Reeves who convinced them I wouldn’t tear the book up, I even had to wear white gloves to open it.”

“I was fortunate to meet a staff devoted to helping faculty and students in any way they could,” he said. “For me that meant tons and tons of interlibrary loans, and of books not easy to find. A couple of years ago I needed a book that was held in exactly one library in South Carolina, and they initially didn’t want to lend it. It was Kelly Reeves who convinced them I wouldn’t tear the book up, I even had to wear white gloves to open it.”

Curnutt continues to see the library as a partnership in his work.

Curnutt continues to see the library as a partnership in his work.

“As databases have become the norm, I’ve made suggestions that I thought students would find useful. More and more of us faculty have also had to accept that students don’t visit the library as a physical space much anymore, so we really press on them the need to use databases like Jstor, MLA, and newspapers.com. Students sometimes go wide-eyed when they realize how much information is at their fingertips, that’s the exciting part, seeing students discover access to knowledge.”

“As databases have become the norm, I’ve made suggestions that I thought students would find useful. More and more of us faculty have also had to accept that students don’t visit the library as a physical space much anymore, so we really press on them the need to use databases like Jstor, MLA, and newspapers.com. Students sometimes go wide-eyed when they realize how much information is at their fingertips, that’s the exciting part, seeing students discover access to knowledge.”