Work History

I have been working in libraries for over six years (with a brief break as a barista, a skill almost as important as librarianship). During this time I have worked in public libraries, academic libraries and special libraries. I have been in charge of small projects, training and hiring employees, and have run the whole library. I have designed digital libraries and web pages, developed new services in collaboration with a variety of University offices, and have taught library skills to individuals at all levels of the University.

University of Wisconsin Center for Limnology Library

I served as the Project Assistant and Librarian at the Center for Limnology. I reported directly to the library committee and the director of Information Technology at the center. While I was at the CFL Library I accomplished the following:

1. I developed a digital library using Drupal

   In addition, I collaborated with IT staff to develop a center-wide photo repository, and reorganized the library to accommodate patron requests for a reading/study space.

2. I reduced repetitive tasks by 10%

   The library is small and is staffed by only two people for an average of 25 hours per week. So we spend a lot of our time working on ongoing and repetitive projects. I have nothing against repetition, but I do everything I can to eliminate unnecessary repetition. So I worked to improve work flow by combining steps into batch processes, automating tasks when possible, and eliminating tasks that do not provide value. Through constant testing and refinement. I was able to eliminate 10% of the processing while keeping the same high level of service.

3. I tracked web usage and enhanced webpages using Google Analytics

   I added Google Analytics tracking to all pages and I then optimized pages based on keyword’s patrons have used and bounce rate. For example, I learned from click mapping, that users were not clicking through to the pdf of an article after looking at the reference. I realized that most users had laptops and while I had set up authentication based on IP, I had forgotten to set up so that wireless users would be authenticated as well.

4. I increased web traffic by 150%

   The newly developed resources were so popular that web traffic has increased 150% in one year.

Library Instruction Practicum

I served one semester as a library instruction practicum student.

1. Taught Several Sections of a First Year Student Seminar

   Led students through many library resources. Created a participatory environment where students were guided through the research process using library resources

2. Taught a workshop on RefWorks citation management software

   This session was designed for undergraduates, graduate student, faculty, and university staff.

3. Co-presented a training session on “Trends about Current Students”

   The training was later delivered to all instructional staff using Adobe Connect

   Net Generation on Prezi

4. Delivered training session on using Prezi

   This training was viewed by librarians throughout the nation via the Open Library Solutions webinar series.

   How to Prezi! on Prezi

Library Reference

I have worked at two positions providing reference assistance to patrons at a help desk. My current position is with the University of Wisconsin Memorial Reference Desk and my previous position was at the University of Kansas Watson library.

1. I have experience answering questions via chat, phone and walkup

   At the University of Wisconsin, I have answered questions via chat, phone and in person. At the University of Kansas, I was the only undergraduate student asked to help test and staff an newly implemented chat service that served four separate Kansas libraries.

2. At the University of Kansas, I served on a committee to help evaluate and expand KUinfo, a service that had recently been acquired and led by the Kansas Libraries.

   The committee was a cross-departmental initiative and involved members of the libraries, admissions, student services, and other departments.

Additional Library Experience

1. I have worked in circulation both as a student as well as a clerk in the Madison Public Libraries

   At both positions I was the initial contact with the public regarding library services and policies.

2. While at the Madison Public Library I developed a staff blog to help communicate policy changes and updates to a staff with a diverse scheduled

   Due to overlapping staff schedules. I created a centralized forum for staff communication and updates.

My library experiences extend back to the seventh grade where I was a summer volunteer in the children’s section of the Wichita Public Library. What was my proudest achievement at the Wichita Public Libraries? Well, I decided that all the of the Choose Your Own Adventures Books needed to be in alphabetical order. And as long as I was a volunteer there, they were.

photos are available under the creative commons license:
www.flickr.com-photos-bloem-2304016107
www.flickr.com-photos-ozyman-443545349