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Enthusiastic and innovative professional with more than 10 years of library management experience as a change facilitator and more than 20 years in a leadership role. Excited to join a team committed to expanding the reach of libraries into the 21st century-particularly in a role that will allow me to use my leadership, training, programming, and customer service skills in an environment that will aid library growth across the region.  

 

  • 2012 American Library Association Emerging Leader

  • Directed regional unconference “Your Library Is Essential-Marketing for Success” with 104 attendees from 7 different states

  • Led a team in the conversion of 23,000 items from the Dewey Decimal System to the Browse Method

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EDUCATION

University of Rhode Island             

Kingston, Rhode Island

B.A. Communication Studies with Writing minor                                             December 2008

Master of Library and Information Studies                                                     May 2010

  • Completed a comparative study of UK and US academic, public, and special libraries and museums through the University of Southern Mississippi study abroad program         Summer 2009

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Cumberland Public Library, Cumberland RI               (February 2013-Present)

Head of Reference

Responsible for a busy Reference department and management of 4 staff members.  Responsible for training, budget management, collection development and maintenance, adult programming, and promotion.

  • Created and implemented a new library classification system that can be used in any ILS or consortium for free called the Browse Method (http://cumberlandlibrary.org/browse-method)

  • Mentored 10 MLIS candidates for Professional Field Experiences from the University of Rhode Island

  • Created training curriculum for public library work used in conjunction with projects based on the student’s long-term goals and interest areas

  • Curriculum for all students includes training on the difference between leadership and management and how each builds and focuses a team

  • Pivoted team to convert all programs to either a virtual platform or as take-home kits while increasing patron engagement 2020-2021

 

Seekonk Public Library, Seekonk, MA                (March 2011-February 2013)

Staff Librarian, Adult Services

Assisted patrons, designed displays, led programming, managed digital adult collections and collection budgets collection development.

  • Co-authored successful $100,000 Smart Investing @ Your Library grant application.

  • Co-managed Smart Investing @ Your Library series of programs and collection development

  • Built and managed an OverDrive Advantage ebook collection of over 1000 titles for Seekonk card holders

  • Spearheaded One Book/One Town read and series of events for town’s 200th anniversary celebration

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Providence Community Library, Providence, RI        (March 2010-June 2011)

Reference Librarian (On-Call Librarian)

Assisted patrons with reference questions and community groups using space, designed displays.

 

Warwick Public Library, Warwick, RI                               (January-May 2010)

Administration Internship

  • Contributed to San Jose Way renovation project underway at the library

  • Completed building wide weeding project at Apponaug branch

  • Redesigned the layout at the Apponaug branch with San Jose team to utilize the space in a new way for patrons

  • Assisted teen librarian working on redesign projects for teen areas at the main library and the Norwood branch

 

Reach Out and Read Rhode Island, Providence, RI    (March 2008-July 2011)

Site Coordinator

Managed on-site pediatric literacy programs in participating doctors’ offices and health clinics. Ensured sites in compliance with ROR national standards. Ordered and maintained book collections of RORRI’s 41 sites for quality, usability, and cultural appropriateness

  • Collaborated with RIF vendors to order book collections for all sites that were developmentally and culturally appropriate for ages birth-18

  • Retrained all 41 sites on new ROR initiatives

  • Ensured all sites were in compliance with certification requirements

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West Warwick Public Library, West Warwick, RI       (April 2008-March 2011)

Reference Librarian Assistant

Assisted patrons, designed displays, collection maintenance

  • Created grant writing and development timeline to maximize funding opportunities and identify priorities for fundraising

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Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Warwick, RI       (September 1996-March 2008)

Community Relations Manager

Developed and implemented all in-store events and community outreach program for Warwick store.  Full responsibility for program budget management, promotion, advertising, and gift giving.  Worked within the community to promote the benefits of literacy, ensure a positive presence for the store. Created relationships and partnerships with organizations involved in literacy, the arts, and education.

  • Developed relationships within the educational community

  • Created 50 specialized educator’s events drawing over 100 educators each and over

  • Visited more than 300 classrooms for public speaking engagements to stress the importance of literacy and the joy of reading

  • Designed database that provided the ability to create, maintain and efficiently utilize mailing lists of authors, schools, educators, local businesses and Rhode Island nonprofit organizations that housed over 12,000 local contacts

  • Organized and managed multiple events with participation exceeding 2000 attendees such as four Harry Potter release parties and 2 book signings by Chef Emeril Lagasse

 

PUBLICATIONS

  • “Ditching Dewey: Take Your Collections from Enraging to Engaging and Position Your Library for 21st Century Success”, Public Library Quarterly 2019

 

SELECT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

  • What Impression Are You Making? Two Librarians Go Undercover to Discover the Connection Between Innovation and Service (with Dr. Jennifer Cournoyer, RILA 2014)

  • Marketing 101: A Crash Course for Librarians Looking to Promote Their Library, Increase Statistics, Secure Funding, and Advance Their Careers (RILA 2015)

  • Facilitating Browsing for Your Patrons: The Key to More Circs, Success, and Sustainability (OLIS program 2016)

  • Ditching Dewey: How to Make Searching Your Collection Engaging, Not Enraging (PLA 2018, NELA/RILA 2018, CLA 2019)

 

SELECT PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS

  • Founding member of Reading Across Rhode Island (2003)

  • Served as board member for 6 years

  • Founding member and Past President of the Rhode Island Center for the Book (2003)

  • Held board position for 7 years

  • Served on nominating committee for 2 years

  • URI Student ALA President 2009-2010

  • Engaged board to institute a continuity plan, strategic plan, and bylaws to ensure future sustainability

  • Co-chaired OSL Reference Working Group (2013-2021)

  • Co-chaired OLIS Multi-Type Reference Working Group for reference librarians across library types (2015-2020)

  • Co-chaired RI Library Association Conference

  • Color Outside the Lines (2016)

  • Building Connections, Growing Community (2017)

  • Attended Library Futures Conference How Do You Predict the Future? Create It (2017)

  • Completed ALA Public Library Director Crash Course Getting the Skills You Need (2022)

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