Portland, Maine, United States
Passionate educator with professional expertise in special collections, archives, preservation/paper conservation, visual art, and library management. Enthusiastic and energetic approach to community outreach, programming, and instruction. Innovator with an excellent grasp of changing technologies and evolving priorities in libraries, cultural, and educational institutions. Please see Project List (below) for my Consulting Services accomplishments and specific archival and educational projects (among many!). Specialties: In addition to Library Special Collections: Instructional Services: Preservation Educator and Archival Consultant, teaching preservation and conservation topics and procedures at conferences and leading in-services at libraries and regional library districts. Publication: Basic Book Repair Methods, published by Libraries Unlimited, Presently in its 3rd printing. Guy Gannett Foundation Collection Guide (including the corporate history I researched and wrote). Numerous articles on historic and archival topics.
• Development, management and delivery of archival/special collections and patron services in a busy urban library. • Continual implementation of the latest professional best practices for growing the department and content of the Special Collections and Archives for the ultimate goal of providing access for all. • Advocating & leading digitization projects to enhance how the resources could be accessed and shared. • Curating and publicizing exhibitions enhanced by self-designed interpretative discussions. • Enthusiastic delivery of instructional and reference services to a public clientele of all ages, including community outreach and lecturing, leverage all aspects of the collections including print material, electronic resources, and art works. • Establishment and promotion of in-house paper conservation and bookbinding services. • Actively collaborate and lead initiatives with other cultural institutions to increase the use and value of library collections, and develop community partnerships. • Teaching writing classes and preservation workshops, as part of the Library’s educational mission. Digital Archives examples I've created and facilitate: * PPL Digital Commons: https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/ (includes site design, scanning, and metadata) * Maine Contemporary Archives portal, on Omeka: https://portlandlibrary.omeka.net/ * Digital preservation project-1924 Citywide Photographic Survey (31,000 scans + metadata: https://www.mainememory.net/search/ptr/ Conservation examples: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21399267@N08/sets/72157620766842003 http://www.flickr.com/photos/21399267@N08/sets/72157620905091784 https://lotl.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/book-conservation/
• Supervised and provided reference and research support, including development of information literacy instruction, in a learning commons environment, ensuring effective results. • Developed and maintained print and database reference collections, and liaisons with faculty. • Supported the College’s Distance Education programming, with reference services and Web sites. • Participated in reaccreditation committees. • Created and managed College Archives and Special Collections, facilitating their use.
* Provided reference services to the campus community, using print and online resources. * Taught research methods courses, working cooperatively with various academic departments. * Supervised student employees. * Established and managed College Archives.
* Appraised, organized, arranged and described Gannett manuscript and publishing/broadcasting records, facilitating access to the collections. * Conserved all paper, photographic, and bound materials. * Prepared collections for permanent archival storage and reference access at Maine Historical Society, including authoring the published Guide to the Collections.
* Created and refined numerous photographic techniques, including reformatting methodologies which were nationally recognized. * Produced major exhibitions and portfolios for institutions such as Magnum Photos, National Geographic, Aperture, and the International Center of Photography. * Provided guidance to and instruction to the public concerning technical problem-solving and archival procedures.