From my humble beginnings on an organic dairy farm I gained a love of books. For me books have always been dear friends and I have fond memories of my early years in my local public library. I spent quite a bit of time taking it upon myself to reshelve books in the library to the Librarian�s amusement. To further their amusement, I was usually correct in their placement! So began my love affair with libraries and as the youngest library volunteer in the Cazenovia Public Library, I was extremely fortunate to be taken under the wing of the local librarian.
My interest in books continued when I attended Wells College. During my years there, I found a deep love of making books as well and became a Book Arts minor. (I also majored in Early History and as well as minored in Religious Studies) The techniques that the book arts center gave me included an acute understanding of books and their construction that added to my continuing goal of becoming a librarian. I have always seen pursuing a career in Library Science as an important goal. To increase my knowledge in libraries, I volunteered and participated in internships as well as a four-year work study in Long Library at Wells College. My arrival at Wells began both my undergraduate career and my education from many wonderful librarians who granted me the opportunity to gain an immense amount of library information. I learned much from those experiences that gave me the insight into a career path that is filled with reward and challenge.
My future plans in libraries include work in public libraries as well as the academic setting which especially attracts me. I would love to be on the cutting edge of new Library technologies.
I have taken the following classes thus far at Syracuse University IST:
IST 511 Introduction to the Library and Information Profession
IST 601 Information and Information Environments
IST 605 Information Resources: Users and Services
IST 638 Indexing and Abstracting Systems and
Services
IST 613 Library Systems and Processes
IST 616 Information Resources: Organization and Access
IST 668 Literacy Through School Libraries
Classes I am currently taking:
IST 612: Youth Centers in School Libraries
IST 663: Integrating Motivation and Information Literacy
Fieldwork - 50 hours Secondary: Focus Groups and Surveying of MPH for research into a new building
Plans for the Spring:
IST 972 - Practicum Primary
IST 972 - Practicum Secondary
IST 611 Information Technologies in Educational Organizations
Volunteer Groups/Internships/Academic Achievements:
During my time at Wells I was involved with many campus organizations including Amnesty International, the Dining Hall Committee, Book Club, Community Service Board, Programming Board, Japanese Club, Student Diversity Committee (SDC) and History Society.
Amnesty International
-President - 3 years, including organizing a lecture by ex-slave from the Sudan, Francis Bok (including a book signing, classroom discussions, a campus lunch discussion, and dinner with faculty, staff and students) and numerous other campus events.Dining Hall Committee (DHC)
-Recreation of committee in fall 2003, which had ceased to meet since Spring 2001. The committee participated in meetings with dining services and made reports to the Board of Trustees. The committee increased membership from 2 members to 8 members by the Spring 2005.Book Club
Started a book club to give students the opportunity to read and discuss current fiction among friends. I thought it important to include reading fiction and current non-fiction along with studies as a chance to understand current events.Community Service Board
-Participated in Community Service projects: planting a garden on campus, volunteering at the homeless shelter, and other similar projects.Programming Board
-Secretary - 1 year: planned and executed campus events including Spring Weekend (including organizing of live bands, crafts, and club tables), a semi-formal dance, 3 dances, and lunchtime activities.- Japanese Club
-Secretary - 1 year, Treasurer - 2 years: included campus dinners and education to the campus of Japanese Culture, sponsored off-campus events to Japanese Restaurants and Movie Nights for the campus.
- Student Diversity Committee
-Japanese Club Member - 1 year, workshops (leading/participating), became a member at its inception and helped in its continued success in giving a forum for students to discuss issues of diversity on campus.
History Society
-Vice-President/Treasurer - 2 years, which sponsored Movie Nights and lectures by Professors for the student body. Wells College Professors lectured on current interests and papers they were working on to show the students the interests they have outside of the classroom.Wells College Long Library
-I participated in an internship in the Wells College Archives and Rare Book Room. I was involved with creating a database for the Rare Book Room in an effort to educate professors and students alike of the resources Wells College has in old and rare editions of books. As a result the Wells Book Arts Center utilized those books on a more regular basis for their classes. I also learned a lot by helping the archivist with her numerous duties including binding and cataloging theses and various materials.Academic Achievements
-I remained on the Dean's List 6 out of my 7 semesters at Wells College.
-I received the General Library Prize (Koch Library Prize) at Wells College for having the most varied library collection of any senior at Wells.
-As a graduating senior at Wells College, I completed my senior thesis entitled, �Mary of Magdala: Apostle to the Apostles: A Leader and Teacher of Gnosis� which can be found at the Wells College Long Library Archives.
Volunteering
For eleven years I have been volunteering at my local library and have led two workshops in Calligraphy and Bookbinding to the local community. I have also volunteered with the children�s story hour for many years.
