Talking in the Library

In your neighborhood: Ellen

Hey Ellen, welcome to the neighborhood. How long have you been hanging out here?

Ellen:  Hiya.  I've been at the Libraries for six years.

You know, it's funny, you look familiar...

Ellen: Then I must have a doppleganger, because I rarely leave campus. However, I also provide pertinent advice typically delivered through lively presentations, so pehaps you remember me from one of those.

Tell the kids out there what your job is in just one sentence.

Ellen:  I assist people in locating and utilizing resources, specializing in visual resources, and I collaborate with instructors to creatively integrate information and vistual literacy into the undergraduate curriculum.  (Just a note to the kids, Ellen cares so much about her job that she prepared this statement in advance just for you - ed.)

That's pretty cool. Do you have any areas of special knowledge?

Ellen:  I have expertise in the arts fields, both the visual and performing arts, and some of the design based fields. Also, if you're selling your house, I'd be happy to help you stage it.

OK, that's awfully artsy.  Did you learn that in school, or are you just a devoted fan of HGTV?

Ellen: I have a bachelors in Art History and History, and a masters' in Library Science.

That's very cohesive!  Do those interests spill over into your non-work life?

Ellen: Well, for hobbies I enjoy painting, drawing, photography, just about any creative endeavor, I am fairly serious about music and cooking is fun.

Excellent.  Any fears?

Ellen: Questions about squidgy scientific experiments or surgeries are downright scary!

If you could give K-State students one piece of advice to make their academic lives better, what would it be?

Ellen:  "When we dream alone it is only a dream, but when many dream together it is the beginning of a new reality." -- Friedensreich Hundertwasser

Thanks for talking to everyone today!

Ellen: Thanks, have a good one!

Eighth in a series of introductions, watch for more between now and spring break!

In your neighborhood: Joelle

Hey Joelle, welcome to the neighborhood. How long have you been hanging out here? 

Joelle:  I'm brand new!  I've been at the Libraries just 38 days.

You know, it's funny, you look familiar...

Joelle: I was the project coordinator for AG*IDEA here on campus.

Tell the kids out there what your job is in just one sentence.

Joelle:  I create awesome tools and resources to help people navigate the Libraries' vast knowledgebase.

That's pretty cool. Speaking of knowledge, what's your speciality?

Joelle:  I'm good with collaborative technology, food safety and defense issues, public health, agriculture, human sciences, and bioenergy. I'm also into social media.

Interesting!  Does that relate at all to what you studied in school?

Joelle: At least some of it.  I have BS in Ag Business, and a Master's of Library Science.

Well, that all seems very normal.  Any unusual habits or quirks we should watch out for?

Joelle: My phone is an extension of my body - something akin to a fifth limb. You probably won't see me without it.

Does that cause you any problems? 

Joelle: I suffer from acutre fear of losing my phone or ohcrapilostmyphoneaphobia.

If you could give K-State students one piece of advice to make their academic lives better, what would it be?

Joelle:  Learn the resources that are available to you - at the library, on campus, and in the community.  There's so much available to keep you from feeling like just a number

Thanks for talking to everyone today!

Joelle: Farewell.

Seventh in a series of introductions, watch for more between now and spring break!

In your neighborhood: Dan

Hey Dan, welcome to the neighborhood. How long have you been hanging out here?

Dan: Hey slugger. I started at K-State Libraries in August of 2005.

You know, it's funny, you look familiar...

Dan: You may recognize me from my theatre days at K-State when I was the Midnight Madness host. If you use that fact, please be sure to spell "theatre" the pretentious way.

Tell the kids out there what your job is in just one sentence.

Dan: As I told my 8 year old son, I do homework all day and help other people with theirs.  It's better than it sounds.

That's pretty cool. Do you have any areas of special homework knowledge?

Dan: English, History, Social Sciences, Music, Theatre.  And due to my farming experience, I can drive just about any land-based vehicle short of a tank.

Other than this one, what has been your favorite job?

Dan: I used to work in a comic book shop, that's actually even more awesome than it sounds.  We sold (insert list of totally nerdy stuff here, I zoned out and couldn't pay attention).

Yeah, that job sounds "awesome" alright.  Did it lead to any bad habits, though?

Dan: I can't seem to throw away old D&D character sheets.

Scary! If you could give K-State students one piece of advice to make their academic lives better, what would it be?

Dan: Go to class.

Thanks for talking to everyone today!

Dan: Seeyez.

Sixth in a series of introductions, watch for more between now and spring break!

In your neighborhood: Carolyn

Hey Carolyn, welcome to the neighborhood. How long have you been hanging out here?   

Carolyn: Hi. In September, It will be 15 years for me at the library.

You know, it's funny, you look familiar...

Carolyn: I have courtside seats at Bramlage just in front of the student section.  I have been known to wear a Jacob Pullen beard.

Tell the kids out there what your job is in just one sentence.

Carolyn: I'm the circulation expert.

That's pretty cool. Do you have any areas of special knowledge?

Carolyn: Ask me anything that has been in People magazine in the last 30 years and I could probably answer it. Not something to be proud of, but a guilty pleasure.

You UCS folks are deep into pop culture. Let's try a Barbara Walters style question, then. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

Carolyn: I would be my cat Fiona because she is beautiful, thin, and pampered. I could sit on Jim’s lap every night, stay home all day, and eat tuna.

Mmmmm tuna. Any other goals in life besides staying home all day?

Carolyn: I would like to travel to Italy to learn about my father’s family.

Other than this one, what has been your favorite job?

Carolyn: I worked at the Red Cross and I got to see all the cute lifeguards come in  and turn in their stuff. Dusty Campbell comes to mind.

If you could give K-State students one piece of advice to make their academic lives better, what would it be?

Carolyn: Get an on campus job where you have to be at work first thing in the morning! Great for time management. 

Thanks for talking to everyone today!

Carolyn: Fare thee well. 

Fifth in a series of introductions, watch for more between now and spring break!

In your neighborhood: Ashley

Hey Ashley, welcome to the neighborhood. How long have you been hanging out here?   

Ashley: Hey. I started last April, and became full time in January.

You know, it's funny, you look familiar...

Ashley: I volunteered at Manhattan Public Library in the Children's section, mostly with story time.

Tell the kids out there what your job is in just one sentence.

Ashley: I help students and community members rock their research.

That's pretty cool. Do you have any areas of special expertise?

Ashley: I'm pretty good with pop culture. Also sound in movies and current events. If you're talking about the library, I know a lot about our special collections and the Archives.

Pop culture, interesting!  You must have a favorite cartoon character, then.

Ashley: Rainbow Brite. She kicks butt and she's colorful. I love 80s cartoons.

Any other hobbies or interests we should be aware of?

Ashley: Sometimes I talk in funny voices. Don't be alarmed. Also, I want to become an expert at making a homemade pie crust. On my mom's side of the family, this is a true test of being part of the "great women" of the family.

Did pop culture, funny voices, and making pie crust help you all in school?

Ashley: Not really. I have a bachelors in english and communication studies and a masters in library and information science.

Other than this one, what has been your favorite job?

Ashley: During college I worked for a medical journal. It was really fun and I got to see the professional side of how journals work.

If you could give K-State students one piece of advice to make their academic lives better, what would it be?

Ashley: Relax. Do something for yourself every single day.

Thanks for talking to everyone today!

Ashley: Bye! (said in a funny voice)

Fourth in a series of introductions, watch for more between now and spring break!

In your neighborhood: Rachel

Hey Rachel, welcome to the neighborhood. How long have you been hanging out here?  

Rachel: Hi. I've been working at K-State Libraries for four and half years.

You know, it's funny, you look familiar...

Rachel: I used to be a baker at Bluestem Bistro.

Tell the kids out there what your job is in just one sentence.

Rachel: I'm a stress reducer. I make research easier. That's two sentences, but you could, you know, use a semi-colon.

That's pretty cool. Do you have any areas of special expertise?

Rachel: World Music, ethnomusicology

Ethno-what? Did you go to school for that?

Rachel: I did! One of my BAs in ethnomusicology, the other is International Studies.

Did your education influence what kind of music you like?

Rachel : I’m quite eclectic and my preferences change with the wind. But currently in iPod circulation are Andrew Bird, Iron & Wine, DVA (Czech band), Karrin Allyson, Marco Benevento, Miles Davis, Chamber Choir of Europe performing Morten Lauridsen works, Belle and Sebastian, Susan McKeown, Robert Plant & Alison Kraus, The Autumn Film, and Philip Glass. Also anything playing on the Ben Folds Pandora Station.

So do you have time for any non-music hobbies?

Rachel: Reading, baking, I might have an NPR addiction, and coffee

Other than this one, what has been your favorite job?

Rachel: I worked as a paraprofessional for USD 383. I like the small children.

If you could give K-State students one piece of advice to make their academic lives better, what would it be?

Rachel: Can I have two? One is contact your librarian. The second is get to know the office manager in your major's department, because they make the university run and can answer all your questions.

Thanks for talking to everyone today!

Rachel: No problem! Always happy to help.

Third in a series of introductions, watch for more between now and spring break!

In your neighborhood: Jason

Hey Jason, welcome to the neighborhood. How long have you been hanging out here?   

Jason: Hi. I've been here over a span of 12 years, with one away for some grad school.

You know, it's funny, you look familiar...

Jason: I used to be at the Hale Library Help Desk each and every night as the evening Service Coordinator.

Tell the kids out there what your job is in just one sentence.

Jason: My job is to help undergraduates and members of the community connect to the information they need in order to succeed in their educational pursuits. 

That's pretty cool. Do you have any areas of special expertise when it comes to educational pursuits?

Jason: I feel very comfortable with questions about literature, psychology, politics, anthropology, communication studies, sociology, philosophy, religion, economics, medicine, history, theatre, and biology.

OK, that pretty much covers it. Anything you're not comfortable with?

Jason: Snakes fill me with despair and dread.

Do your areas of expertise have any relation to things you studied in school?

Jason: Yeah, I thought I wanted to be a chemical engineer at first, so I did a lot of sciencey things, then I switched to social psychology and got a bachelor's (from KU, but we don't need to mention that).  Then I decided to be a high school biology teacher and took some education classes, got a bachelor's in biology, then switched to neuropsychology, did some grad school, then got my master's of library science.

Did all that school leave you time for any hobbies?

Jason: Reading, playing games (Boggle anyone?), watching movies, and engaging in esoteric discussions about philosophical conundrums.

Other than this one, what has been your favorite job?

Jason: Teaching GRE classes for the Princeton Review. 

If you could give K-State students one piece of advice to make their academic lives better, what would it be?

Jason: Sleep more.

Thanks for talking to everyone today!

Jason: See ya.

Second in a series of introductions, watch for more between now and spring break!

In your neighborhood: Melia

Hey Melia, welcome to the neighborhood. How long have you been hanging out here?

Melia: What's up? I've been at K-State Libraries for almost five years.

You know, it's funny, you look familiar...

Melia: I have a habit of constantly changing my hair, so you may have seen me with a different look. It's been blonde, brown, pink, black, red, I've had a flattop, braided extensions, and a shaved head.

Tell the kids out there what your job is in just one sentence.

Melia: To help you get through college and make it suck less, maybe you shouldn't put that exactly, but that's my job - to help you survive your research.

That's pretty cool. Do you have any areas of special expertise?

Melia: Women's Studies, feminism, sociology, english and multicultural literacy

OK, so your degrees are in...

Melia: I have a master's of library science, an MA in English with an emphasis in cultural studies, a graduate certificate in women's studies, and a BA in costume design and theatre history.

So, do those degrees or your area of expertise have any relation to your favorite cartoon character?

Melia: Yep, Wonder Woman...she's awesome.

Have any hobbies?

Melia: Painting, drawing, and reading, traditionally. My newest ambition is creating a library roller derby team.

Nice. You should call it Tesses of the D'erbyvilles. So, other than this one, what has been your favorite job?

Melia: Teaching for the English and Women's Studies departments at K-State

If you could give K-State students one piece of advice to make their academic lives better, what would it be?

Melia: Talk to a librarian, seriously.  We can make their lives so much better, and we will not shush you.

Thanks for talking to everyone today!

Melia: Peace out.

First in a series of introductions, watch for more between now and spring break!

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

I don't know if they run this bit on Sesame Street any more, but back in the day, "Who are the people in your neighborhood" was a staple. Usually sung by the super-suave Bob, the video introduced little viewers to various people and occupations that they might encounter. 

This semester, we have a lot of new folks at Hale Library and particularly at the Help Desk. This is largely because we now have an entire department - Undergraduate and Community Services (UCS) - that is dedicated to working with you at the Help Desk and teaching many of the library classes you might take. Between now and spring break, I'd like to introduce you to each of the people in the UCS neighborhood and what they do. That way when you come by the desk or head into a library classroom, you're more likely to see a familiar face.

All in all, they're a pretty fun bunch of people. I'd be willing to wager that at least half of them would be willing to join you in a chorus of "Who are the people in your neighborhood" at the Help Desk.