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Notes & Quotes
“Nothing is permanent but change.”
Heraclitus, quoted in Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, 3rd century A.D.
Changing Faces in the Libraries…
by Mary Lou Neighbour, AV Librarian
This is a time of new ideas, energy, and change in the Libraries at Montgomery County Community College, and one of those areas of change is in the staff. Primarily due to retirements, we have a number of new staff to introduce to you. We, also, have staff who have been here for many years and who are now working in new positions. Please read on to learn about all of our staff changes!
Assistant Director/Access Services: Debbie Dulepski
Debbie joined the Library staff in early October. She replaces the former Assistant Director, Barbara Koeller, who retired in December. Debbie supervises the AV Library in addition to overseeing the main Brendlinger Library Circulation Desk. She has a B.A. in English from Centenary College in Hackettstown , NJ, and a Masters of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from Rutgers. For her MLIS, she won a New Jersey Library Association scholarship for library education. Debbie comes to us from College Misericordia where she was Public Services Manager. Before Misericordia, she worked at Raritan Valley Community College for 13 years, where her last position prior to leaving was Serials/Circulation Librarian.
Debbie has moved here with her two wonderful children, Cassandra, 13, and Nicholas, 10. When they can, the family travels for education and entertainment. Debbie is an avid reader, and among her favorite authors are Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Gloria Naylor. She also makes candles, is a flea market enthusiast, and, occasionally, attends NASCAR races and makes the trek to Atlantic City.
Debbie says that she is very happy to be here at Montgomery County Community College during a time of growth and change. She has been impressed by the collegiality in the Library and the support for the Library from the administration. While she is new to the AV aspects of her new position, she is looking forward to the challenge of learning about the audiovisual areas of her job, and, in general, is looking forward to many years here at the College. We, in the Library, welcome Debbie, who has already demonstrated her enthusiasm, creativity, and new ideas.
Reference Librarian: Jim Frutchey
Jim Frutchey (pronounced Froo-shay!) has joined the library staff to replace the former Reference Librarian, Merry Rosenberger, who retired in June. You will see Jim on the Reference desk in the Brendlinger Library and in the classroom where he teaches information literacy classes. He is also on the College E-Learning Committee.
Jim has a B.A. in American Studies from Albright College; an M.A. in History from the University of Scranton; an M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; and a Master of Science and Library Science (MSLS) from Clarion University . He has come to us from York Technical Institute, where he was the librarian at the Lancaster campus. Prior to that library position, Jim was the Resident Director at Keystone College, where he counseled students, oversaw student housing, resident assistants, and residence programming. He held a similar position at Penn State, where he did similar work with the responsibility for many more students and staff. Thus, Jim brings to his work a wealth of experience in dealing with students.
Jim loves all types of sports, but is particularly partial to New England sports teams, including the Boston Red Sox. He collects sports memorabilia, and counts among his treasures a 1939 baseball card of Joe DiMaggio and baseballs autographed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gherig. We, in the Library, are particularly impressed with Jim's energy and stamina. Within the space of two weeks in October, this new dad started his new job, purchased a new house in Quakertown, and moved into his new house with his wife and 7 week-old son, Ethan!
Jim has found everyone at the College very nice, and has heard only positive things about MCCC. His goals, while here, are to give the best reference service he possibly can and make available the best reference resources in print and online for students, faculty and staff. We are so very pleased that Jim has joined our staff. His professional expertise, along with his past extensive experience with students, make him a valuable new member of our Library staff. Welcome, Jim!
Part-Time Librarian, West Campus: Terri Sharif
Terri Sharif has been at the West Campus for awhile, but we haven't formally introduced her to the College Community in Notes & Quotes. You will see Terri in the West Campus Library most afternoons and evenings during the week, and on Saturday mornings. She divides her professional work time between West Campus and the Chester County Public Library based at Exton, where she works both in reference and cataloging. She has a B.A. in English from Ursinus and an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Drexel.
Prior to becoming a librarian, Terri lived in Germany in a village near Koblenz . She went to visit family there, at age 19, and ended up staying 10 years! In her spare time, she likes to read –mostly non-fiction – and is interested, particularly, in health, fitness, and nutrition, as evidenced by her reading, doing yoga, working out, and walking. As a member of the Library staff at West, she says that she loves working with students – encouraging, helping, and cheering them on – as they pursue their educational goals. Terri has been a tremendous addition to the Library staff at West, and we are fortunate to include her among our professional staff.
Part-Time Acquisitions Clerk: Sarah Penniman
Sarah began working at the Brendlinger Library in late August. She works “behind the scenes” in acquisitions, but you will also see Sarah filling in at the main Circulation Desk when needed. She currently divides her time between working at the College and working at the Borders in Montgomeryville. She has a B.A. in Spanish from Dickinson (she spent her junior year abroad in Malaga ) and an M.A. in Literature from American University in Washington, D.C. While in D.C., Sarah was an intern for James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly. Sarah hopes to start graduate work in Information Science and Technology at Drexel in the spring. Her goal is to become a librarian in an academic setting.
When not at work, Sarah enjoys reading and outdoor sports – hiking, biking, tennis, and rock climbing. Sarah says that she is very happy to be at MCCC where she has found all of the staff “very nice people.” And, we are very happy to welcome Sarah to the College, and to help her in any way we can in her pursuit of a graduate library degree at Drexel.
The following two staff members have been with the
Library for many years, but now have new positions.
Library for many years, but now have new positions.
Processing Clerk – Barbara Howard
Barbara has taken the position that Phyllis Gabage held before her retirement Spring semester. As Processing Clerk, Barbara is now responsible for preparing all print materials for the Brendlinger and West Campus Libraries for the shelves. She also repairs damaged materials and supervises student workers for the Brendlinger Library.
Previously, you would have seen Barbara at the Circulation and Periodicals desks. She was a teacher for the 1st and 2nd grades for eight years, and even taught in the Children's Center here at the College twenty years ago. Barbara has a B.S in Education with a minor in Behavioral Science from SUNY New Paltz, and an M.A. in Education from Penn State .
Both of her children have graduated from Montgomery County Community College. Her son, Andy, is currently pursuing a PhD. in machine learning at Columbia, and her daughter, Kim, who was the MCCC's first Study Abroad student, just graduated from the College this past spring.
When not at work, Barbara enjoys reading and needlework. She says that she loves working in the Library; the students, staff, and faculty are wonderful people; and she genuinely appreciates the College community. We welcome Barbara to her new position “behind the scenes.”
Circulation Assistant: Ann Green Minnick
Ann started in her new position this summer, replacing Barbara Howard, who moved to become Processing Clerk. You will now see Ann during the days at the main Circulation Desk of the Brendlinger Library. She started at the College in the New Choices Program, and from that joined the Library staff in 1991. Since that time, she has had a variety of positions in the Library, all within Circulation. Ann also has an Associate Degree in Gerontology from the College and has become certified in phlebotomy. She is also a licensed cosmetologist.
Prior to beginning her association with Montgomery County Community College, Ann worked in New York, where she sang blues in NYC clubs. In fact, her number one passion outside of work is music, which started with her participation in church choirs. In addition, Ann is a fabulous cook, and all in the Library and many on campus have sampled her wonderful dishes. Ann says that she wants to continue to grow, and her working at an educational institution allows for that growth. She loves working at MCCC, which she considers a nurturing learning environment. We extend hearty congratulations and good wishes to Ann in her new full-time position, which she has earned with her many years of competent and reliable service to the Library.
And this rounds out our introductions of new staff in the Libraries and experienced staff members in new positions. If you have a chance, please stop by the Brendlinger Library or AV or West Campus Library to meet our new personnel. There will be additional new librarians to introduce in our next newsletter, as the staff continues to evolve and change in this dynamic time in the Libraries of Montgomery County Community College.
