PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Western New York Library Resources Council, Cheektowaga, NY
Training & Emerging Technologies Librarian, May 2008 - Present

Manage the Ask Us 24/7 Virtual Reference Project:

• Provide reference services to users through online chat, using QuestionPoint software.
• Maintain schedule of over 50 participating libraries, coordinating arrangements for substitute coverage and shift makeups when needed.
• Promote the service to library users and the media within New York State.
• Maintain the service's social media presence with Facebook and Twitter.
• Train new librarians in use of chat software and best practices.
• Provide continuing guidance in best practices via email reminders and online videos.
• Maintain the project's website using HTML and ASP: http://www.askus247.org
• Monitor usage statistics and user survey results.
• Review transcripts for quality control purposes.

Manage the Training Center:

• Plan training workshops based on member suggestions and current trends.
• Contact potential speakers, schedule workshops, and promote to librarians in New York State.
• Teach workshops.
• Host webinars run via WebEx web-conferencing software, featuring a variety of presenters.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Continuing Education Committee.
• Coordinate conferences and other full-day events at off-site locations.

Other:

• Contribute articles to the organization’s blog.

Montante Family Library, D'Youville College, Buffalo, NY
Part-time Reference Librarian, February 2006 – June 2008

Reference:

• Answered reference questions from students, faculty and community members via phone, e-mail, and in-person requests.
• Assisted patrons with finding materials within the library.
• Selected items for the library collection in the areas of exercise and sports studies, pre-med, and physician assisting.
• Initiated a project to create a "Frequently Asked Questions" section for the library website.
• Created layout and template for subject listing of databases on library website.
• Created 3 new handouts to assist patrons with online resources, and revised some existing handouts.
• Created a Facebook profile for the library, and designed a Facebook application allowing users to search the catalog, databases and FAQ.

Instruction:

• Taught scheduled Bibliographic Instruction lessons to groups of up to thirty students, graduate and undergraduate.
• Assisted head of Reference department in redesigning Bibliographic Instruction training checklists, guides, and librarian evaluation forms.

Interlibrary Loan:

• Processed interlibrary loan requests for books, periodical articles and dissertations.
• Used SirsiDynix Horizon ILS to verify student account status.
• Compiled data used to monitor copyright compliance.
• Served on an Interlibrary Loan Enhancement Committee and assisted developing new policies and procedures, including online request submission and e-mail.
• Created four PHP forms for the library website (later converted to ASP), which allow users to submit interlibrary loan requests online: http://library.dyc.edu/ill.html.

Other:

• Participated in faculty/college governance by attending faculty council meetings and college assemblies.
• Staffed library booth at college open houses.

Alfred C. O'Connell Library, Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY
Part-time Reference Librarian, August 2005 – February 2006

• Answered reference questions from students, faculty and community members via phone, e-mail, web chat, and in-person requests.
• Assisted patrons with finding materials within the library.
• Taught scheduled Bibliographic Instruction lessons to a variety of classes.
• Compiled/monitored web links for subject guides on the library website, in the humanities and social sciences.

Information Resources Center, Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Services, Amherst, NY
Temporary Assistant Information Specialist, July 2004 – January 2005
Intern, July 2003 – August 2003

• Answered patron questions by phone, e-mail and in person, while staffing the reference desk. Conducted reference interviews as needed.
• Researched product testing standards, American and foreign government regulations, and queries related to specific consumer products.
• Utilized a variety of resources during research, including the World Wide Web, online databases, print publications, and telephone calls to knowledgeable agencies.
• Selected stories from daily news feed about key clients, for inclusion in company intranet.
• Compiled Internet links and created summaries of news stories for weekly newsletter about consumer products.
• Created an intranet page of links to relevant European regulations.
• Revised and updated intranet information on international toy standards and regulations.

SKILLS:

Technical Skills

• Web design, with over 15 years of practical experience.
• Proficient in writing HTML and CSS, as well as using editing programs such as Dreamweaver.
• Competent in Drupal, WordPress and Joomla.
• Basic familiarity with JavaScript, PHP, and ASP.
• Social networking tools including Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
• Video creation and editing with Camtasia and Corel VisualStudio.
• Advanced online research through Web searching and electronic databases.
• Image and document editing with Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop CS3.
• Word Processing using Microsoft Word, Google Drive and OpenOffice.

Other Skills

• Providing reference services through email, phone, chat, and in-person transactions.
• Conducting full-day and half-day training sessions to teach a new concept to an inexperienced audience.
• Giving short presentations at continuing education workshops, webinars and professional conferences, with or without slide presentation software.
• Ability to take initiative in starting new projects.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

New York Library Association
            American Library Association
            Reference and User Services Association

EDUCATION:

            University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
            Master of Library Science, May 2004
            GPA: 3.9/4.0

            State University College at Buffalo, New York
            Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, May 2000
            GPA: 3.5/4.0