Librarian II, April 2013 – Present
Austin Public Library – Faulk Central, Austin, TX
An adult services reference librarian at a large, urban public library, I aim to improve the customer experience and enrich lives through increased education, opportunity and engagement on the web, in the library and in the community.
- Answers research, tech troubleshooting and general library questions in person, over the phone, through email and via chat
- Teaches classes and leads tours
- Does off-site outreach for library promotion and education at a variety of venues
- Creates and maintains several topical information guides and FAQs, using customer-focused language and screenshots
- Trains staff for using the catalog, LibGuides and Snagit software and maintains comprehensive how-to and style guides for each
- Develops and assesses the print collection, including purchase recommendations, weeding and displays, for the subjects computers, philosophy, psychology and more
- Launched the class Tech Time for helping customers download eBooks to their devices and developed staff training guide for implementing the program system-wide
- Point person for APLTV, developing templates and long-range content plans for LCD screens in the library
- Evaluates potential new databases and beta redesigns of existing library apps and products, providing feedback to colleagues and directly to vendors
- Led a team for restructuring the library’s website navigation through its header and footer menus
- Co-manages We Recommend, selecting and loading books into our online portal for recommended titles
- Co-creator of the Facebook Live series, Q&APL. This includes long-term content planning, creating scripts and performing live on camera to demonstrate library apps and other services
- Performs with the award-winning Bibliofiles book cart drill team
I’ve received the following awards during my Austin Public Library (APL) tenure:
- APL Team of the Year, 2017—APL Unbound: bike-powered pop-up library outreach
- APL Project of the Year, 2016—Tech Time: helping customers use library eBooks
- APL Above & Beyond, 2016—Outstanding customer service at an outreach event
- APL Above & Beyond, 2014—Leadership for the website menu redesign
- APL Above & Beyond, 2013—Outstanding customer service at a youth event
Reference and Instruction Librarian, September 2010 – March 2013
Walden University Library, Minneapolis, MN
Performed an array of ongoing and project-based duties for a fully online academic library.
- Answered student research questions over the phone and by email
- Developed and delivers webinars for students and faculty
- Provided virtual dissertation literature review consultations
- Traveled nationally to teach one-on-one and large group lectures
- Created online information literacy and subject research guides
- Investigated and proposed content organization schemes for website restructuring
- Planned and conducted user testing to capture user behavior and used this data for website improvements
- Investigated standards and developed a comprehensive style guide governing all aspects of library content creation, across all platforms, with an emphasis on link and image accessibility for ADA compliance
- Served as faculty outreach liaison for the College of Education and Leadership
- Researched topics and provided bibliographies for faculty and staff
- Assessed collection for new program development
- Evaluated new databases for content and usability
- Received staff award for website and style guide work [ read nominator comments ]
Catalog Assistant Intern, February – May 2010
Public Radio International, Minneapolis, MN
Cataloged PRI / WNYC’s “The Takeaway” radio segments into an internal digital asset management system.
- Determined appropriate data and cross-referenced authority files
- Assigned subject headings based on content analysis
- Provided consultation for taxonomy improvement
Pathfinder Development Librarian, August – December 2009; March – May 2010
Lindell Library, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN
Created 10 online research guides using LibGuides software.
- Determined optimal organization and design for the guides
- Researched, selected and annotated relevant print and online resources to meet curricula needs
- Collaborated to create a style guide for consistency and quality control
- Was offered two additional contracts after the successful completion of the first
Graduate Academic Assistant, September – December 2007; January – April 2009
Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Provided reference in the Art + Architecture + Planning and Science and Engineering Libraries as a student librarian.
- Performed basic and in-depth reference in person and over the phone
- Assisted subject librarians with bibliographic verification and environmental scans
Student Librarian (Co-op Positions), January – December 2008
McPherson Library, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
May – December: Assisted with information literacy and outreach initiatives.
- Wrote content for and designed web pages for research literacy and information discovery
- Created and updated print aids (citation style guides, “How to Avoid Plagiarism,” and more)
- Created an online tutorial
- Led general and course-specific classroom workshops
- Conducted tours for new and prospective students
- Provided reference service
January – April: Assisted with developing and promoting the institutional repository, UVicDSpace.
- Researched and created supporting documents for UVicDSpace, including policies, procedures, marketing materials and more, in print and online
- Assisted with promotional, educational and instructional presentations to faculty
- Performed environmental scans for scholarly and open access publishing
- Provided reference service
Library Assistant II, September 2005 – August 2006
Periodicals and Reserve at Wilson Library, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Coordinated the digitization of class course reserves and other duties as assigned.
- Developed and maintained course web pages with Dokutek software
- Investigated copyrights and terms of use for e-Reserve content
- Determined best practices and developed written procedures for e-Reserve
- Assisted in the supervision of 14 undergraduate student workers
- Performed scheduling, payroll processing and training for student workers
- Negotiated and resolved overdue fines with patrons
Library Intern, June 2005 – August 2005
Utne Magazine, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Assisted in the management of the magazine’s collection of over 1,500 alternative periodicals.
- Catalogued materials and corrected faulty records
- Indexed the Utne magazine for future reference work and retrospectives
- Provided research for leads and fact checking
- Weeded and shifted the collection for ease and timeliness of use
- Attended editorial meetings and pitched story ideas
- Wrote short blurbs for articles on the magazine’s website