This is where you can catch up on past Spotlight on WJMN Library Staff profiles. Don't forget to submit your own profile, and encourage your colleagues to do so as well!
Member Spotlight
Jess Hopeman
Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
St. Paul
What is your job in the library?
Acquisitions
What is your favorite reference question, or most memorable library experience?
Our legislative history materials (committee minutes, audio cassettes and floor logs) used to be housed in a room down on the ground floor of the State Office Building separate from the main 6th floor library space. I worked a shift down there each day, and one of the most challenging and bizarre library experiences I have had involved assisting two patrons who were working on tracking the same legislation, presumably each on opposing sides of the same lawsuit. Confidentiality is obviously a critical aspect of our work, and maneuvering their research so that each patron could be working on different parts of the same chronology without either side learning about their overlapping interests from us used every bit of my acting ability and some artful distraction. It is remarkable how often people inquire about whether anyone else has been working on the same topic, or try to find out who currently has the book they wanted to check out. I think most times such questions are quite innocent, but protecting confidentiality takes vigilance, especially in a highly-charged political setting like the Legislature.
What would you like us to know about you?
(Interests, family/pets, goals, etc) I play a lot of volleyball and am a recent convert to kickball. I love to cook, sip wine, hang out with my new nephew, and travel (not necessarily in that order). In my “free” time I’m pursing a Master’s of Public Affairs at the U of M’s Humphrey Institute, and I am determined to someday become fluent in Greek.
Tell us about your library (when it was built, size, special collections and/or programs, etc)
The LRL is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year! We maintain a public policy collection of over 40,000 books and reports, including a comprehensive collection of Minnesota state documents. We house legislative history materials for the most recent 8 - 10 years, and also have a bunch of great resources on Minnesota issues and historical information on the Legislature and state government on our website. Our primary clientele is legislators and legislative staff, but we also provide a lot of assistance to other state agencies and the public particularly after session is over, and we are less consumed by legislative requests.
Any tips or advice for other library staff?
One aspect of my job is to work with folks from state agencies to acquire any and all state documents for the Library’s collection with a special focus on tracking and obtaining any reports mandated by the Legislature in a given year. I’ve come to view that interaction with agencies as a reciprocal relationship rather than simply demanding what the library wants and needs (and is entitled to by statute), and it has been really beneficial to shift my thinking in that way. A basic idea, I know, but so helpful. I make it clear that agencies can always contact me for assistance with ANY questions about mandates, and the back-and-forth has really strengthened the Library’s relationships with various agencies. I find agency liaisons more willing to help us find answers when we need them because they know we’ll do the same for them, and the task of submitting reports may be less onerous when agencies know who to call when they have a problem. It also has meant that agencies sometimes contact me when they’re rethinking how they present electronic versions of reports on their own websites, which has allowed the Library input it wouldn’t otherwise have. Everybody wins!
Emily Lloyd
Eden Prairie Library
Eden Prairie (Hennepin County)
What is your job in the library?
I'm an Associate Librarian--in other county systems, I've been called a "Library Assistant." I work the ref desk and do other librarian-y stuff, but don't have an MLS.
How/why did you choose this field?
I'm passionate about public access and community service, and I love teaching but don't have enough of an extrovert's stamina to be in front of a class all day. I've worked in academic and public libraries, and lean towards preferring publics for the wide range of folks I get to help and questions I get to puzzle over. I love the short "bursts" of teaching I can perform at the library, whether in leading computer literacy classes, booktalking, holding storytime, or helping at the desk and in the stacks. While I'm in library work for the long haul and wouldn't have it any other way, I've made the conscious decision not to go for my MLS for financial reasons. In part due to this, I deeply appreciate opportunities to self-train (WebJunction, subscribing to library blogs, etc.) and share ideas.
What is your favorite reference question, or most memorable library experience?
I had a patron who asked how one does the Hokey Pokey. I offered to track down the song for him on one of our children's music CDs, and he said that he already *had* a recording of the song, he just didn't know how the dance went. I said, "The song lyrics pretty much explain it...you know, you put your left foot in, etc." He still wanted a visual, so I stood up and did the Hokey Pokey for him from the ref desk. If it'd been a different patron, I might have figured the question for a prank, but this guy seemed entirely guileless.
What would you like us to know about you? (Interests, family/pets, goals, etc)
I live on South Minneapolis with my partner and our two daughters, one tween and one teen. For the past two years, I've had a lot of fun writing a web comic, "Shelf Check," set in a public library (one episode even mentioned WebJunction!). Take a look or subscribe at http://shelfcheck.blogspot.com.
Tell us about your library (when it was built, size, special collections and/or programs, etc)
The current Eden Prairie Library opened five years ago, in a building that used to be a Lund's grocery store and looks a bit like Monticello on the back of a nickel. While not the biggest of Hennepin County's 41 libraries, Eden Prairie has the highest circulation stats. It's busy and beautiful.
What are your favorite social networking applications and how can we find you? (WebJunction or Facebook name, instant messaging program & ID, etc)
In addition to the Shelf Check blog, I blog at poesygalore.blogspot.com. I'm on Facebook but not frequently. I check in on Twitter a few times a day--follow me at twitter.com/elloyd74
Kristen Mastel
University of Minnesota
St. Paul
What is your job in the library?
Outreach & Instruction Librarian
How/why did you choose this field?
My art history professor was a librarian in a previous life, and saw my knack of research in extra-credit options for class. While her T.A. she cultivated my love of research and instruction.
What is your favorite reference question, or most memorable library experience?
My most memorable reference question isn't because it was hard, it was quite easy, but it was memorable because I did not do the full reference interview. I had a gentleman looking for a farming journal, but later as we were in the stacks it was not an article he was interested in but rather the ads. After every reference interaction I pause and go over in my mind what I will do differently next time, or how I can improve my reference skills.
What would you like us to know about you? (Interests, family/pets, goals, etc)
I am a volunteer at the Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden in the summer and that is the subject of my Masters of Liberal Studies.
Tell us about your library (when it was built, size, special collections and/or programs, etc)
Magrath (pronounced muh-GRAW) Library was named in 1998 in honor of Dr. C. Peter Magrath, President of the University of Minnesota from 1974-1984. The library was previously called the St. Paul Campus Central Library. The library building was originally built in 1953. The "wing" was opened in January 1980. The library collection contains approximately 400,000 volumes, which includes bound journal volumes as well as books.
Any tips or advice for other library staff?
See my reference question section. Also, put yourself out there- have a blog about what you do- so it isn't a mystery to your constituents, etc.
What are your favorite social networking applications and how can we find you? (WebJunction or Facebook name, instant messaging program & ID, etc)
WebJunction I have a presence on but I am a much bigger user of Facebook, and am on IM, Twitter, blogs, Ning.... I try it all ;)
Carol Alberts
Great River Regional Library
Saint Cloud
What is your job in the library?
Library Assistant 2, Technical Services (formerly Technical Services Specialist)
How/why did you choose this field?
My husband received a graduate fellowship to Yale University. Although I had a B.S. in Elementary Education from the U of M, I was reluctant to teach in an unfamiliar part of the country. We saw a notice for a job at the Yale Divinity School Library. I applied and got the job. I made about $280 a month. That was in 1960. I’ve worked in libraries ever since.
What is your favorite reference question, or most memorable library experience?
I’ve loved being on the scene as the whole world of classification and descriptive cataloging exploded in the information age. At Yale I hand wrote descriptions for fragile sermon pamphlets with lengthy titles by Cotton Mathers and other New England notables. A secretary typed them onto master sheets that were used to produce catalog cards. From 1968-1972 I used volumes of the National Union Catalog to help reclassify books from Dewey to Library of Congress at the Mikkelsen Library and Resources Center at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We pulled sets of cards from the catalog, erased the old call numbers and typed on the new call numbers, then re-filed the cards. It was a relief to outsource changing the cards the last year or two of that project. A new Sioux Falls public library opened in late 1972. I was hired as a part-time library assistant soon after, and eventually became a full-time cataloger. I attended a MARC workshop in 1976 and first searched OCLC on a Teletype machine at 300 baud per second. A few days later a shipment of catalog cards would come. Then came retrospective conversion and our first Dynix integrated automated system and online catalog. I retired from that job in 1997 to move to St. Cloud. Fast forward to 2009: I now instantaneously download files of MARC records into Horizon from Baker & Taylor, then edit them and attach item records.
What would you like us to know about you? (Interests, family/pets, goals, etc)
Like many library people, I love to travel. One of my twin sons and his wife live in New Zealand, so I’ve visited them three times. I’ve been to Sweden seven times, and more than once to other places in Europe. The other twin son and his wife live in South Dakota. My daughter and her husband live in the Twin Cities. She is a youth services librarian for Hennepin County Library. We’ve gone to MLA and ALA together.
Tell us about your library (when it was built, size, special collections and/or programs, etc)
It’s awesome to work in the Saint Cloud Library that opened last September. We’re the headquarters for 32 branch libraries in six counties. The glass, granite and copper-trimmed $32 million building is now a major gathering point in the city. There are about 60 public computer stations. Read more about us online.
Any tips or advice for other library staff?
Those of us who work behind the scenes need to be more aware of what it’s like to assist library users -- and vice versa. Sitting all day in front of a computer screen is much different from interviewing a frustrated library user who doesn’t understand why we can’t deliver exactly what he/she wants immediately. Because we’re all caught up with what we’re doing, it’s easy to forget how necessary we are to each other. Frankly, catalogers and processors often feel like our work is taken for granted, or is invisible. Visit the technical services department in your library and learn what it takes to create the catalog and process materials. Pay attention to what the public tells you they want at your library. People told us for years that we didn’t have enough parking space and they didn’t like paying to park. Usage has soared since we got our new building with a huge free parking lot.
Use this space to add anything else you want to say!
At 70 with over 48 years of library experience, am I the oldest person working in a Minnesota library? I’d love to hear stories of others of my generation!
What are your favorite social networking applications and how can we find you? (WebJunction or Facebook name, instant messaging program & ID, etc)
I’m pretty savvy about technical stuff, but have avoided exposing myself to the whole world. I sell stuff on eBay, though. People may email me at carolal (at) grrl.lib.mn.us
Mollie Pherson
SELCO (Southeastern Libraries Cooperating)
Rochester, MN
What is your job in the library?
I'm the Regional Librarian at SELCO--I create the SELCO/SELS newsletter and program PR materials, I help coordinate the Hot Reads for Cold Nights program, I go on site visits, I serve as an advocate for libraries, and the list goes on!
How/why did you choose this field?
When I was an undergraduate at UW-River Falls, I got a part-time job shelf-reading and shelving books in the campus library. I absolutely fell in love with the library and being in the stacks, and I officially knew I wanted to work with libraries. After I graduated, I enrolled in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois.
What would you like us to know about you? (Interests, family/pets, goals, etc)
I'm originally from Iowa, and my sports writer husband and I live in Rochester, MN. I love watching hockey live or on TV and visiting new places throughout the state of Minnesota.
Any tips or advice for other library staff?
No matter what type of day you are having, always keep a smile on your face.
Suzanne Hilgert
Olivia and Renville Public Libraries
Olivia and Renville, MN
What is your job in the library?
Head Librarian Olivia and Renville Public Library
How/why did you choose this field?
I came from the education/school library field prior to accepting position as public librarian.
What is your favorite reference question, or most memorable library experience?
I am always intrigued by people trying to remember a book only by the cover or artwork. My most memorable library experience was the renovation of the Olivia Public Library in 1996-97. It was overwhelming and I am amazed at all that was accomplished.
What would you like us to know about you? (Interests, family/pets, goals, etc)
I have an amazing family, husband of 40 years and 3 fantastic children who have lived in various areas of the world. Our family travels and enjoys the variety of cultures this world offers.
Tell us about your library (when it was built, size, special collections and/or programs, etc)
The Olivia Library was started in 1916 and has only a handful of librarians so they tend to stay a long time. The current site was home to a library built in 1966 and worked until computers. It only had 8 electrical outlets so you can see the dilemma. Our new and renovated space expanded the library from 2800 to 6000 sq ft with lots of technological expandability. The Renville Library is also a newer facility. I'm proud our rural county in the 1990's 4 of the 5 city libraries moved into new libraries. Quite an accomplishment for a small county of only 17,500 people.
Any tips or advice for other library staff?
Enjoy the best job in the world. It is such a pleasure to meet and assist the wide range of customers that use our libraries. Every day is different and the fun and challenges never end. What a wonderful work experience.
Use this space to add anything else you want to say!
I believe technology is such an important part of the library future. I enjoy brainstorming about the possibilities it may bring, especially to our rural areas. The connection available to the rest of the world is exciting.
What are your favorite social networking applications and how can we find you? (WebJunction or Facebook name, instant messaging program & ID, etc)
I am on Facebook, but know there is more there that what I am using. As we "older generation" embrace it, it will be interesting to see it involve. I use Skype to visit and see grandkids from other parts of US. I love all the Google applications and am a strong user of Webinars and classes from WebJunction and Minnitex. They are an easy and really fun way to learn. Thanks for offering them!
LeAnn Suchy
College of St. Benedict/St. John's University libraries
St. Joseph & Collegeville
What is your job in the library?
My job title is Reference & Information Literacy Librarian, which means I staff the reference desks at our libraries and I teach many different library instructional sessions to our students.
How/why did you choose this field?
My friends always thought I was crazy, but in undergrad I loved doing research. Finding information on different topics was exciting to me, so after befriending a librarian at my college and hearing more about what librarians do every day, library science seemed like a perfect fit.
What is your favorite reference question, or most memorable library experience?
The most interesting reference question I've had was: What was the temperature in London in January of 1596? After a discussion with the student his real objective was to find out if the River Thames was frozen at that time and was frozen enough to support the weight of Shakespeare's theater moving across the river. In 1596 in London, plays were banned within city limits so theaters were forced to perform south of the river. This student wanted to make the case that the theater was physically moved and not rebuilt. I found this question really interesting because I’m a huge Shakespeare fan. (I did find the temperature and a lengthy description of the thickness of the ice in a farmer's journal from that time.) The weirdest reference question I had was: Where is Handel's Messiah playing anywhere in the country this weekend? I received this question near Christmas, and Handel’s Messiah is probably playing over 50 times in each state near Christmas, and this person wanted me to find all the locations for him. I love patron expectations!
What would you like us to know about you? (Interests, family/pets, goals, etc)
I love to read, golf, play softball, watch movies, go to concerts, travel, and play cards with my family. We play a mean game of Up and Down the River whenever we get together. I've always wanted to be an author, too, so I'm very excited about taking more steps in that direction by becoming a member of and taking classes at The Loft this coming year!
Any tips or advice for other library staff?
For library staff in academic libraries I'd recommend getting to know your student workers. I learn so much about our students by befriending our student workers, and the student workers also tell their friends to "go see LeAnn" in the library for any help they need, so it's an added incentive.
What are your favorite social networking applications and how can we find you? (WebJunction or Facebook name, instant messaging program & ID, etc)
I love social networking applications and you can find me as LeAnn Suchy in WebJunction, Facebook, and MySpace. I am lsuchy in Delicious, my blog is MN Library Girl (http://mnlibrarygirl.blogspot.com/), and in Flickr you can find me as lovelyleann. I also IM and on MSN I am librarianleann and on AOL I am crazyelvischick (yes, I am a crazy Elvis chick...I love him!).
Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran
University of Minnesota - Rochester
How/why did you choose this field?
I got a job as the Director of the Sidney Public Library in Sidney, Nebraska. I discovered that I loved working in a library and figured that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my career.
What is your favorite reference question, or most memorable library experience?
I find the questions quite different in an academic setting than in a public library, that's for sure! In my public library we'd get questions that would run the gamut from trivia questions to government information to patent information. In an academic setting, the questions tend to be very esoteric.
What would you like us to know about you? (Interests, family/pets, goals, etc)
I live in Rochester with my husband and our three furry "kids" - Zena, the rat terrier, Ginger, the golden retriever, and Casey, the goldendoodle. Our real kid lives in Milwaukee with our darling granddaughter.
Tell us about your library (when it was built, size, special collections and/or programs, etc)
The UMR library is brand-new - as is the campus. We will admit our first freshman class in fall of 2009. To my knowledge we are one of the only virtual academic libraries in the country.
Any tips or advice for other library staff?
Have a sense of humor.
What are your favorite social networking applications and how can we find you? (WebJunction or Facebook name, instant messaging program & ID, etc)
WebJunction - mbsam Facebook - Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran Yahoo IM - mbsam or umrlibrarian
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