Greater Seattle Area
Civic-minded librarian, researcher, and community connector with over 15 years of experience in public and special libraries. I recently started my own business and am interested in freelance research, copywriting and content writing opportunities. Specialties: research services, writing, customer service, arts advocacy, project management and event planning, teaching and instruction, community outreach and engagement, information literacy, zines, alternative and underground press, worldwide domination.
I worked on this research and oral history project with Elaine Vradenburgh of Window Seat Media. From 2022 to 2023, we worked with the City of Olympia's Heritage Commission and completed 25 oral history interviews and an extensive resource guide documenting Olympia's music scene from 1980 to 2002. In 2023, I formed the nonprofit Olympia Music History Project LLC with Mariella Luz and Markly Morrison. We continue documenting Olympia's music scene through oral histories, images, and ephemera. https://www.olympiamusichistory.org/ https://www.olympiawa.gov/community/arts,_culture___heritage/indie_music_history.php
Community Print is a community letterpress and print studio with a rich history in Olympia arts and culture. I've been involved with Community Print since 1998, but entered a leadership role in roughly 2012. Since then, we've moved into a new building, formed a board, received Fiscal Sponsorship through Arbutus Folk School, and received multiple grants. Community Print has had many different homes, and is currently located at 414 Legion Way SE. Interested people can get in touch with us at https://www.community-print.org/
For a one-year contract, I was fortunate to act as the part-time Assistant Rare Books Librarian for the amazing James F. Holly Rare Books Collection. What a dream!
* Provided research services and resolved research inquiries; consulted finding aids and interpreted them for researchers; monitored researchers to assure adherence to collections use and security procedures; guided researchers to other sources for records, publications, and information. * Monitored use of collection and identified records requiring preservation; initiated and supervised indexing and projects to enhance access to the collection. * Created and implemented projects to increase digital access to materials. * Created publications and resource materials. * In non-pandemic times, was responsible for hosting tours and special visits and performing outreach to the community.
* Supervised seven excellent staff with two busy Information Services departments recently merged into one department serving youth and adults in the Lacey community and beyond. * Coordinated outreach, programming, training, job coaching, schedules and general support for Information Services staff. * Continued to perform all duties outlined in previous position. * Worked on learning as much as possible about Youth Services Librarianship so that I could best support my recently added youth services direct reports and the mission of the library.
* Managed four top notch staff on a busy adult services reference desk * Staffed the adult reference desk and provide a richly varied selection of services and assistance to patrons at the 24th busiest library in Washington state (http://www.wa-list.com/?p=309) * Coordinated and promoted 8-10 innovative and eclectic library programs per month * Created monthly schedules for the adult services reference desk in coordination with our youth services desk * Acted as the “in-charge” senior staff, addressing patron behavior and building issues as needed * Supervised and coordinated public outreach opportunities and community partnerships * Provided both formal and informal technology instruction for library users * Promoted readers advisory services, including book discussions, displays, and enthusiastic conversations about books * Oversaw and maintained the Lacey Timberland Library's small zine collection * Participated in systemwide teams: Adult Coding and Making Task Force, Form Based Readers Advisory Team, Adult and Reference Services Team * Co-taught an 8 hour Readers Advisory training and a 4 hour Form Based Readers Advisory training for Timberland staff several times per year * Other supervisory tasks as assigned, including annual evaluations of staff, participation in hiring panels, and setting the overall vision for our department * Received a Community Focus commendation from Timberland's administration in 2017
* Provided quality reference and information services for the diverse patrons of the 12th busiest library in Washington state (http://www.wa-list.com/?p=309) * Developed, implemented and promoted creative, high interest library programming based on the interests and culture of my community. In 2013, I organized 27 programs with a total attendance of 1,276 patrons. * Performed outreach and engaged in community partnership building. Successful partnerships included Enterprise for Equity, the Olympia Food Coop, Capital Recovery Center, the Washington State Healthcare Authority, Community Youth Services, the Evergreen State College, and the Olympia Comics Festival. * Enthusiastically engaged in readers advisory activities including conversations, booklists, displays, book discussion facilitation, and co-teaching the popular district- wide Readers Advisory training. * Selected, purchased, cataloged, processed and maintained the Olympia Zine Collection, which I started in 2007 as a pilot project. The collection now has over 2,500 zines and has expanded to the Lacey branch. * Supervised and trained volunteers to catalog and maintain the Olympia Zine Collection. * Prepared curriculum and taught technology classes in a group setting and one-on-one. In 2013, I taught 40 one-on-one computer classes and 5 group eBook classes. * Hired, trained and managed 12-14 teen library volunteers for our intergenerational Teen Tech Tutors program, which pairs adult learners wishing to acquire technology skills with volunteer teen instructors. In 2013, Teen Tech volunteers worked a total of 185 hours and served 151 adult learners. * Regularly acted as the “in-charge” senior staff, addressing patron behavior and building issues as needed.