WJMN logo

Make the Most of Your WJMN Experience

Here's a hint on making the most of the social experience on WJMN--set your profile viewing options to Members & Friends so we can see your interests and employer. Not only will this let other WJMN or WJ members find you, it will speed up your affiliation approval if we can easily find your employer. It is easy to do. Just go to My Account: Profile Options and be sure that Members and Friends is checked in each category.

Archived WJMN news items

WJMN Member Spotlight

Sandi Mead
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Worthington

What is your job in the library?
I am a librarian on the largest of the 5-campus Minnesota West Community and Technical College Libraries. I am in charge of technical services, but since we are small in staff number, I provide instruction in the classroom setting on our library services, I work the reference desk, and tutor students, since the tutoring center of the college is housed in the library.

How/why did you choose this field?
I chose the library field at first because I thought it was a good pair with my Elementary Education degree, but then later decided to get my Master's in Library Media Education because I wanted to work in the academic library setting, after working at a public library for 12 years.

What is your favorite reference question, or most memorable library experience?
My favorite question would have to be "how do I find the research material I need to write this paper". In this case, I love to start from scratch with a student and talk them through the various products and websites that we have linked to our Minnesota West library page.

What would you like us to know about you? (Interests, family/pets, goals, etc)
I have been blessed to have raised two wonderful children and a countless number of "their" pets. I feel a goal would be to continue to learn every day and apply what I learn from new applications and technique to better serve our students and faculty. I am interested in music, and sing publically once a year in the school's annual Homecoming Talent Show - for fun.

Tell us about your library (when it was built, size, special collections and/or programs, etc)
Our library is one of five in our college. The Worthington campus is the largest and houses the most print material. It was always a part of the Worthington campus, dating back to almost prehistoric times. We have changed recently to be called the Library and Academic Resource Center, which brings in the campus computer lab, the campus tutoring center, and a career center.

Any tips or advice for other library staff?
I would say that you should always try to renew the passion that brought you into working at a library in the first place. Take online classes, listen to speakers, and by all means network with others.

What are your favorite social networking applications and how can we find you? (WebJunction or Facebook name, instant messaging program & ID, etc)
My facebook was started as a "23 things on a stick" application, and have grown to love corresponding with our current and former students: just look for Sandi Mead, Sioux Falls network, I also have a Twitter account as SandiMead.

 

  WJMN wants to put YOU in the spotlight!
Library staff members all over Minnesota are creating innovative programming in their libraries, have unique stories about how they came to work in the library, funny library stories, or even just interesting hobbies. Help us get to know you (and your library!) by completing
this brief questionnaire.
 


Click here to view past Spotlights


Thanks to WJMN State Partners

WebJunction Minnesota is provided by a partnership between State Library Services, Minitex, & Metroent. In addition, all Minnesota multicounty multitype library systems and five of the twelve regional public library systems (MELSA, Lake Agassiz, Traverse des Sioux, SELCO) have agreed to contribute time and effort to making WJMN a one-stop destination for library staff seeking news & information about Minnesota libraries, resources to improve library service, continuing education and more. Liaisons in these systems will help the WJMN Team get the word out, find content, and keep the site fresh and useful for you.

 www.flickr.com/photos/88637726@N00/904035517

www.flickr.com/photos/88637726@N00/904035517

Thanks to these state partners for jumping in to WebJunction with us!

BlogJunction Minnesota

Minnesota Library Community
Calendar of Events

Click here to view more events

Learning Opportunities: New Catalog, New Courses

The WJMN Learning Center features hundreds of new courses from SkillSoft, UNT LE@D, and WebJunction that registered WJMN members can take free of charge. You will find links to other continuing education opportunities, too. Stay tuned for more on WJMN.

To the Learning Center »