Greg Stall Alumni Spotlight

Tracey Johnson, MLIS – Alumni Spotlight

Tracey Johnson

iSchool Graduation Date

2013

Professional Organizations/Affiliations

American Institute for Conservation (AIC), Southeast Regional Conservation Association (SERCA)

Current responsibilities/How are you using your information skills?

As an assistant conservator in a state archives (Georgia), I am responsible for gathering and analyzing temperature and humidity information from environmental data loggers to ensure a stable environment for our collection. I also conduct surveys to assess the preservation needs of the collection, including the degradation of the reference microfilm and identifying candidates for digitization and removal to a more appropriate storage environment. A good portion of my job is performing conservation treatments on collection items to provide access to and stabilize them for use by researchers. I also assist the Conservator with developing and maintaining policies and procedures for emergency preparedness, preservation, etc.

What is the best professional advice you can give?

It’s the same advice that was given to me early in grad school: get out of your comfort zone when deciding on a specialty and try things you don’t think you’re interested in to make sure that’s really the case. I thought for sure I was going to be a cataloger in a public library, since that’s what I had done during my undergraduate program and really enjoyed it. Following this advice, I chose a practicum in digital preservation in an archives and loved it. When I started working in an archives shortly after, I was introduced to conservation and fell into my dream job!

How do you encourage innovative ideas?

By encouraging others to experiment and really explore their ideas no matter where it takes them, and by being open-minded about new ideas myself. We had an intern in the conservation lab this year that we were teaching bookbinding to and she was really disappointed with one of her books. Instead of giving up on it, we encouraged her to keep working with it and she ended up creating a small volume to collect sample materials in for reference during her conservation training. By continuing to work on the oddly shaped volume, she better understood how to work with complications a volume from the collection might have.

Do you have a mentor? How have they influenced you?

I have had several excellent mentors in both my library and conservation training. Sure they taught me the day-to-day specifics of the work, but they also taught me how to be an excellent leader by demonstrating patience, understanding and importance of the larger picture, and how to support other staff and departments within the institution.

What do you wish you had done earlier or more often?

I wish I had gotten more involved in professional organizations and networked with colleagues. By being on various boards, I feel like I’ve contributed to the profession in a meaningful way. I wish I could have broken out of my shell earlier so I wouldn’t still be chiseling away at it.

How and where do you find inspiration?

Looking at leaders in the field of cultural heritage and adapting their ideas in ways that are attainable and/or appropriate for my institution. Looking at different fields and how their methods or materials might work for archives conservation. And talking with people I come in contact with from all kinds of professions to figure out how our careers and ideas might overlap.

To what values are you committed?

Dependability, Creativity, Growth, Dedication

How do you balance your work and home life?

Because the bulk of my job is treating collection items, much of my work physically stays at work. I am very passionate about what I do so it isn’t a burden when these overlap. However, I am very aware of burnout and take steps to prevent it, such as spending quality time with my family, knitting, and reading novels.

What are some challenges that today’s information professionals will face? And tomorrow’s?

Funding will always be a challenge. When state and federal budgets get cut, cultural institutions are the first to feel it. My institution is an example of this that after the economic downturn from the pandemic we were asked to decrease our budget significantly. With very little fat to cut, the result was a few layoffs and several other positions remaining indefinitely vacant as well as deferred maintenance of our facility.

How can the library remain important to the community?

By helping the community understand that we are curating and caring for collections specifically for their use. As information professionals, we analyze the communities we serve and create programs and exhibits, highlight collections, etc. that we hope they will find interesting. We exist to serve them.

What websites, apps, podcasts, or other resources would you recommend to explore?

The C-Word is a podcast by conservators for conservators covering a broad range of topics from a real-life perspective. Sometimes brutally honest about the life and experiences of a conservator, I think this podcast would be of interest to anyone in the realm of preservation.

What is a book you like that you have to defend liking and what is a book you dislike that you have to defend disliking?

I am surrounded by open-minded people, so I don’t have to defend liking anything I read. In fact, many of the books I read are recommendations from friends. One such recommendation was The Kingkiller Chronicle series by Patrick Rothfuss, which is amazing!

It’s not so popular now, but I really disliked Fifty Shades of Grey. I was working in circulation in a public library when it came out and I decided I should read it to better understand the interests of our patrons. There was no suspension of disbelief for me and I struggled to finish it. The storyline seemed very flimsy and the characters totally unrelatable. I’m not against the genre, but I simply couldn’t understand what made this series so worthy of being made into movies over the many other novels of its kind. I still regret the 20 minutes I spent trying to get into the first movie before finally giving up.

Special thanks to the Kent State University iSchool Alumni Network for coordinating these profiles. Learn more about the Alumni Network on their Facebook page and group. Students are welcome to join and participate.

Greg Stall Alumni Spotlight

Ken Burhanna, MLIS – Alumni Spotlight

Ken Burhanna

iSchool Graduation Date

1994

Professional Organizations/Affiliations

Association of Research Libraries, Academic Library Association of Ohio, Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association 

Current responsibilities/How are you using your information skills?

I oversee the University Libraries of Kent State as Dean. I also oversee Kent State LaunchNET (entrepreneurial firm focusing on innovative mindset development and student-startups) and the Kent State University Press.  

What is the best professional advice you can give?

Cultivate a growth, learner mindset. Always ask questions and know you are likely more wrong than you are right.  

How do you encourage innovative ideas?

Ask questions and encourage experiments. Put resources behind the experiments if you can.   

Do you have a mentor? How have they influenced you?

 I have had several mentors filling several different roles. It takes a village and it’s an active process. Mentorship doesn’t just happen to you. My mentors have influenced me by supporting me, showing me the way and listening to me.  

What do you wish you had done earlier or more often?

Forgive myself for my mistakes.  

How and where do you find inspiration?

Reading, writing and exercising outside — anything that helps me stop and reflect.  

To what values are you committed?

To be open, inclusive and innovative.  

How do you balance your work and home life?

Wow, this is not a question that can be easily answered in a few lines. It takes a type of selfish discipline that I have yet to entirely master. The pandemic has really blurred the lines too. At this point, the best start for me is not to check email after I stop work for the day and not on Friday nights and Saturdays.  

What are some challenges that today’s information professionals will face? And tomorrow’s?

Privacy of user information. The spiraling costs of information resources. Equitable access to information (Internet) for all. Educating users to apply critical thinking to the information they encounter. These all, by the way, are connected in an almost perverse way.    

How can the library remain important to the community?

By constantly responding to their users’ needs while maintaining the values of our profession.  

What websites, apps, podcasts, or other resources would you recommend to explore?

Scholarly Kitchen, Fast Company, Charleston Hub, and any number of library-related podcasts. You can easily find many on Google. A good starter list can be found here: https://player.fm/podcasts/Librarian.  

What is a book you like that you have to defend liking and what is a book you dislike that you have to defend disliking?

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance – liking 

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation – disliking 

Special thanks to the Kent State University iSchool Alumni Network for coordinating these profiles. Learn more about the Alumni Network on their Facebook page and group. Students are welcome to join and participate.

Greg Stall Alumni Spotlight

Mary Schreiber, MLIS – Alumni Spotlight

Mary Schreiber

iSchool Graduation Date

2003

Professional Organizations/Affiliations

• American Library Association
• Association for Library Service to Children
• Currently serving on the 2021 Randolph Caldecott Committee

Current responsibilities/How are you using your information skills?

• Collection Development Specialist for Cuyahoga County Public Library in the area of youth selection

• Presenting at the South Central Library System (WI) virtual staff development day in October on the topic of Partnering with Parents for Early Childhood Success

• Adjunct Professor at Kent State University’s iSchool.  Taught the Selection and Acquisitions class in Spring semester 2020

• Published a professional development book, Partnering with Parents: Boosting Literacy for All Ages through ABC-CLIO.

What is the best professional advice you can give?

Always return emails and voicemail in a timely manner.  I shoot for 24-48 hours even if the response is simply that I’m still working on getting an answer or finding a solution.  Your co-workers and community partners will really appreciate the courtesy.

How do you encourage innovative ideas?

We’ve had a lot of retirements over the last few years, so there are many new librarians and support staff working in the branches.  It can be a challenge to get to know everyone, but I feel it is important to keep the lines of communication open so branches know they can ask for materials to support their programming idea.  For example, when Baby Club was started, the branch staff asked to have reference copies of the board books they would be sharing with families.  This was something I could happily do.

Do you have a mentor? How have they influenced you?

I’ve had several mentors throughout my career.  Some have been formal mentors that have helped me make decisions about next steps in my career.  These were set-up through my library’s mentoring program.  Others have been more informal, including managers who were strong and supportive leaders and were examples to me when I was a supervisor.  I’ve also been informally mentored by ALSC members through the various committees I’ve served on.  This has expanded my network and comes in handy when my library is looking for outside advice on new products or services.  Specifically, I learned how to work with a board and leadership team when I served on and co-chaired the ALSC Public Awareness Committee and was involved in creating board proposals and the Championing Children’s Services toolkit.  I’ve also served as a mentor and learned a lot from my mentees.  Their creativity and enthusiasm inspires and energizes me.

What do you wish you had done earlier or more often?

Taking a little time to think before saying yes to an opportunity and knowing it’s fine to say no when a project doesn’t really interest you or the timing isn’t right. If it’s meant to be, they’ll ask again.  If it’s a must do for your job, then speak up to your boss and ask for guidance.  It is okay to ask for help prioritizing projects when what you’re hearing is that everything is top priority.  They can’t all be #1 and a good boss will help you manage your to-do list so you can get them what they need when they need it.  I’m stilling working on this one. 
😊

How and where do you find inspiration?

I read a lot and get inspired by books all the time.   Listening to authors and illustrators talk about their process brings additional joy to favorites.  I also find professional development rewarding.  Whether it is attending an ALA or OLC Conference or a webinar, I love to learn from others and then see how I can bring at least one thing back to my library to implement. 

To what values are you committed?

As a selector of materials, I’m committed to intellectual freedom and access of information.  I work to find and add a wide variety of diverse titles to the collection.  I feel it’s very important to have books that reflect and expand a child’s experiences with the world.

How do you balance your work and home life?

In the past, I have not brought work home much, and tried to limit out of work time spent checking email.  Using the out-of-office feature lets people know when they can expect to hear back from you.  Since March, I’ve been working more from home and so I’ve been pretty strict about turning off my work computer at 5:00 and staying off email in the evenings.  I enjoy spending time with my family, reading (the lines are a little blurry on this one), and traveling when I’m not working.

What are some challenges that today’s information professionals will face? And tomorrow’s?

With the pandemic it has really highlighted the importance of digital access and broadband for all.  I think this is an area that library professionals will be working with their communities to expand and improve.  There will also be a need to see how it permanently influences libraries.  Will people permanently move to ebooks?  What will programming look like once large in person groups are safe?  Will there still be some author/storytime events online?

I’ve worked in libraries for 25 years.  Services, programs, formats, and technology have changed and shifted to the point where some areas of librarianship are almost unrecognizable to the libraries of my childhood.  I’m glad the library is more of a community space rather than a quiet, sacred space.  I think being flexible and embracing change are characteristics information professionals will continue to need in the future.

How can the library remain important to the community?

As COVID-19 has shown, libraries are where people go when they need reliable Internet and computer access.  They go to libraries for job searching and for help applying for benefits.  I gained firsthand knowledge of the challenges of applying for unemployment when my library went on Shared Work Ohio for a couple of months this Spring.  Libraries are perfect partners for community organizations like senior centers and schools to support reading and lifelong learning.

What websites, apps, podcasts, or other resources would you recommend to explore?

I like the Mile High Reading blog and Heavy Medal Mock Newbery blog. To keep in the know about what’s being published, I subscribe to the Shelf Awareness and Book Pulse e-newsletters.  

What is a book you like that you have to defend liking and what is a book you dislike that you have to defend disliking?

I was a huge Babysitters Club fan as a child and a librarian told my mom that she should make me read “better” books.  Thankfully, my mom didn’t listen.  This has made me a champion for kids having access to the materials they like – graphic novels, comic books, cartoon/superhero beginning readers, video games, etc. Caregivers can set limits for their kids, but library staff never should.

I never was able to make it through Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.  I tried reading and listening to the first book, but just couldn’t get into it.  When asked, I say that teens know about the series and they’ve never really needed me to recommend it.  I also read the reviews so that I would have good background knowledge for parent concerns.  Twilight was hot right before I left branch life and moved to collection development.  With Midnight Sun arriving in August, I purchased many copies to meet the customer demand and in lots of formats.

Special thanks to the Kent State University iSchool Alumni Network for coordinating these profiles. Learn more about the Alumni Network on their Facebook page and group. Students are welcome to join and participate.

Greg Stall Alumni Spotlight

Julianne Bedel, MLIS – Alumni Spotlight

Julianne Bedel

iSchool Graduation Date

I graduated with my MLIS in 2006. I was part of a scholarship cohort guided by Dr. Carolyn Brodie and Dr. Greg Byerly through the Laura Bush: Librarians for the new millennium IMLS scholarship grant. If memory serves me correctly, half of us aspired to teen librarianship in a public library (that was me!) and the other half of our scholarship cohort planned to do the same in a school library setting. I’ll always be thankful to Drs. Brodie and Byerly for the wonderful experience I had in the program! I’m happy to say that I still see a few folks from our cohort around the library community and it’s always wonderful to catch up.

Professional Organizations/Affiliations

OLC, ALA/PLA, American Association of University Women, and Chi Omega

Current responsibilities/How are you using your information skills?

I am presently the Director of the Medina County District Library (Ohio). We’re a county library with six branches and a bookmobile. I’ve held the position since February of this year. What a wild six months it’s been! Prior to that I was the system’s Assistant Director starting in July 2018. Is it just me…or do you also find yourself relying on both basic and advanced information literacy skills sometimes even more in your personal life than at work (some days) as a library professional? I’ll blame the relentless 24/7 news cycle.

What is the best professional advice you can give?

The following was shared with me many years ago, and I think it’s still evergreen. Change can be achieved by either evolution or revolution. There’s a time and place for each. Choose wisely.

How do you encourage innovative ideas?

By not being afraid to admit mistakes and change course when needed. I always put in the honest work to research, plan, and exercise due diligence. However, when things run amuck, I try to be frank about it. Don’t point fingers, just fix the problem and move on! Nothing kills innovation more quickly than fear of blame. That’s not to say I don’t hold myself and others accountable for inadequate planning or poor decision-making if that occurs. It’s all about honesty. I just try to encourage creativity by reducing the fear of failure by being open and honest with mistakes. Of course, when things DO end in success, shine the light on all those who were involved. Make sure that kudos are given to the entire team – not only those who were directly responsible for the innovation, but also those who supported the work in ancillary ways. Recognize “the village” that contributed to the success.

Do you have a mentor? How have they influenced you?

The library director who gave me my first management position (20+ years ago) still takes my calls. I’ve kept in touch with her through professional good times and tough periods, even though I only ever actually worked for her for less than a year. She was also the adjunct professor who taught my KSU library management class. I’m not sure she knew I unilaterally appointed her as my mentor way back in the day, but she’s certainly lived up to the role. She’s influenced me by her professional example as she’s directed several library systems in our region and been actively involved in OLC and ALA leadership roles. I’ve been particularly thankful for her willingness to listen and talk through complex situations…always offering insight and guidance but never advice.

What do you wish you had done earlier or more often?

I wasn’t aware of the practice of mindfulness until fairly recently. I’m still very much a work in progress in that regard, but I do wish I had started thinking about that much earlier in life.

How and where do you find inspiration?

Professionally, my staff is the biggest inspiration to me at this stage in the game. Their ingenuity, dedication, and tenacity are the reason that I look forward to doing my own job. Ensuring that they have access to the resources they need to get the job done today and in the future is my number one priority. And not just in a pandemic.

To what values are you committed?

Speaking on an individual level, I strive to live with personal integrity, empathy and kindness. Thinking about values organizationally, last year our library’s staff developed a Culture Statement – and I have to admit that I kind of love it.

How do you balance your work and home life?

Most times I would say that I categorically do NOT have a balanced work and home life. It depends on what’s going on and where, really, which way I lean at any given time. For me the key to long-term sanity is knowing when to unplug long enough to recharge. If you’ve got the secret to balancing work and home, please give me a call!

How can the library remain important to the community?

As we always have: by staying responsive to our local community’s needs. By providing the services and resources they need – not that which we think they ought to want. By listening. And 2020 of course is putting a whole new twist on connecting with our communities in the ways which are safest for patrons and employees alike.

What websites, apps, podcasts, or other resources would you recommend to explore?

Right now I’m enjoying Higher Ground: The Michelle Obama Podcast on Spotify (including the free version) as it is focusing on the relationships that make us who we are.

What is a book you like that you have to defend liking and what is a book you dislike that you have to defend disliking?

Back in my very first library job, when I was a high school sophomore, my manager could hardly bear to include “trash romances” in the library collection. I think she may even have described them that way and said that at least they (the paperback romances) got some folks in the door who otherwise wouldn’t come in. She just hoped that sometimes they also grabbed some “decent reading” while they were here, too. I must have internalized that judgement because some years later I accidentally read Jude Deveraux’s Knight in Shining Armor (1989), which started me on romance reading, and I became a fan of the genre – but certainly wouldn’t mention it at work! (Yes, I made sure she didn’t see me borrowing “those” kinds of books.) I originally picked up the title because I thought it was time travel fiction (it is) rather than a romance (it really is). At the time I was support staff working through my undergraduate education, and in hindsight it still surprises me how long I carried that attitude. I think in the long run it made me super sensitive not to do that to any of my own library patrons! What book do I dislike? I just can’t stomach any kind of horror. Even the most basic. But I’m not going to defend that…because I know you won’t judge me for it!

Special thanks to the Kent State University iSchool Alumni Network for coordinating these profiles. Learn more about the Alumni Network on their Facebook page and group. Students are welcome to join and participate.

Greg Stall Alumni Spotlight

Adam D’Alexander, M.L.I.S. – Alumni Spotlight

iSchool Graduation Date

2017

Current responsibilities/How are you using your information skills?

I currently work as a Development Associate at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, a college in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. My team works with grants and sponsored research projects, so a lot of our work is writing proposals and reports, stewarding current donors, and cultivating new partnerships. My information skills play an important role in prospect research, which entails using research databases and search engines to seek potential donors who align with our institution’s mission and outreach initiatives. I was first introduced to prospect research while completing my MLIS practicum requirement as a research and development intern at the Centers for Families and Children, a non-profit in Cleveland, OH. 

Before entering the development field, I worked in public libraries for seven years. I had worked as a page, a circulation assistant, and a library associate before I was promoted to Adult Learning Information Services Librarian at Twinsburg Public Library in Twinsburg, OH upon receiving my MLIS degree. My work at this job, including collecting statistics and community feedback, writing summaries for grant proposals, managing a budget for purchasing materials, and running an outreach service for homebound residents provided important project management skills necessary to succeed at my current position. 

What is the best professional advice you can give?

There are always opportunities to transfer your skills and develop professionally in order to find a job you love. My career path thus far has not always been linear – but I picked up new responsibilities along the way while staying mindful of how my acquired skills can guide me toward new job prospects. I think this mentality can be especially empowering for Library and Information Science students – there are many ways to utilize your education and experience to enter careers that may not fall under the traditional library umbrella.

How do you encourage innovative ideas?

I am relatively new to the development field, but one thing that is consistent with this profession and the Library and Information Science field is that innovation is not only encouraged – it is necessary. In order to meet the needs of our most vulnerable community members and enact positive change in our world, we need to accept that the work we have done in the past is not always enough. Our society is at a paradigm shift, and it’s more important now than ever to use the wealth of information available to discuss the critical issues of our time. As I develop professionally, I hope to be more proactive in utilizing my creativity and love for information to share insights with my colleagues, friends, and family.

Do you have a mentor? How have they influenced you?

I have had many mentors throughout my career. Some have worked as direct supervisors, and others have been professionals that I have formed close working relationships with. The one thing they have all had in common is that they are encouraging and compassionate. Not only have they trained me to be resourceful and independent in my work, but helped me understand the scope and importance of what we do. I am so thankful for my mentors, especially those at Twinsburg Public Library, who motivated and supported me as I pursued my MLIS degree at Kent State.

What do you wish you had done earlier or more often?

One thing I picked up on while obtaining my MLIS degree is the importance of being open-minded about where your degree can take you. When I pursued my bachelor’s degree in writing at Ithaca College, my goal was to simply be a “writer.” When I began my Library Science degree, I wanted to be a “librarian.” However, I realized it wasn’t serving me to passively obtain credits in order to meet the degree’s requirements. I took MLIS courses that expanded my technological skills, took electives in economics, marketing, and knowledge management, and chose to complete my practicum outside of a traditional library setting so I could finish graduate school with multiple options to use my skills. I highly recommend all young students to be proactive in exploring every opportunity the field has to offer before setting your sights on one career.

How and where do you find inspiration?

I have and currently work with outstanding colleagues – they do not only achieve their team and individual goals, but always look for innovative ways to make the work we do more effective and meaningful. The Development and Alumni Affairs Team at The Cooper Union, as well as the school’s students and faculty, inspire me with their forward-thinking ideas and practices. I am also inspired by our leaders, activists, and library workers who advocate for their communities, even during this global pandemic. 

To what values are you committed?

Compassion, openness, reliability, positivity, and inclusivity.

How do you balance your work and home life?

It is very important for me professionally and mentally to fully unplug when I am not working. Though I may not be physically in my office or checking emails after work hours, I have to make a special effort to stay present and relax. I often do this by making plans with friends after work and setting time aside to explore my hobbies and interests.

What are some challenges that today’s information professionals will face? And tomorrow’s?

Information professionals are multi-faceted and work in diverse settings, including public, academic, and special libraries. However, no matter where they work, they are called to develop professionally and learn new skills to “keep up” in the technological age. Our education is ongoing, and though it is challenging, it is critical to maintain our level of expertise in order to lead our fields.

How can the library remain important to the community?

In my opinion, libraries are more important than ever, especially in this time when technological and educational accessibility play a critical role in our survival. However, library employees, administrators, major donors, community partners, and the government often have a different perception of what the library’s primary role is from their vantage points. It is important for them to put traditional beliefs and differences aside to fully understand what their communities need. I believe transparency between interested parties and increased level of engagement with library patrons will be key to their importance in the future.

What websites, apps, podcasts, or other resources would you recommend exploring?

I recently finished The Library Book by Susan Orlean, which provided an in-depth history of the Los Angeles Public Library. Orlean’s narrative about its importance to Los Angeles’ diverse community really resonated with my experience as a librarian. This profound (and fun) read truly captures the significance of libraries and the magic they bring to people’s lives. 

What is a book you like that you have to defend liking and what is a book you dislike that you have to defend disliking?

I have never been very interested in popular fantasy novels or series such as Hunger Games or Lord of the Rings. I like to read authors that really examine the human condition, even from its darkest angles. One that stands out in my mind is Hanya Yanagihara, who wrote A Little Life – my favorite book of the past few years. I was moved by this incredible novel, but would hesitate recommending it to friends and family due to its difficult subject matter.

Special thanks to the Kent State University iSchool Alumni Network for coordinating these profiles. Learn more about the Alumni Network on their Facebook page and group. Students are welcome to join and participate.