Staff Notes
by Janet Perry, Library Assistant
Meet Our New Employees
Deborah Robbins - Our new part-time Circulation Clerk has an Associate Degree in Human Services from the College, and lists reading at the top of her leisure time interests. She finds Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series especially satisfying, not only for the books' entertainment value, but because she can always find someone who's read them and is interested in comparing notes. Deborah is a former kindergarten teacher, who loves taking walks with her children and the family dog.
Deborah certainly has the right approach. She enjoyed her time as an MCCC student, and sees her new position as an opportunity to pass along the same positive experience to students as she helps them prepare for the future.
Lisa Cacciola - As the new AV Cataloger/Reference Librarian, Lisa is fully qualified, both academically and personally. She has a BA in English from Drew University, an MLS from Rutgers, and a MA in English from Montclair State University, with an intense personal interest in reading, travel, movies and music. In fact, when asked about her favorite movie or record album, true to her new position, Lisa replies, "Too numerous to mention!" Her literary interests came to the fore when she chose an internship in the publicity department of a New York publishing house, where she also enjoyed "many brushes with minor celebrities." Lisa was also the Community Service Coordinator and Library Director at a girls' boarding school. She enjoys working with animals and volunteering. Before moving to Pennsylvania, she worked for two animal welfare groups in New Jersey.
Lisa comes right to the point when discussing her new position. She says that "there is so much information out there that students need experienced librarians to guide them to appropriate sources of information for their classes, their future work, and their personal interests."
Kevin Strunk - The West Campus Library has a new part-time Reference Librarian whose Myers-Briggs test branded him an "atypical librarian." Kevin says he can't disagree, although his academic accomplishments are classic: a BA in English from the University of Richmond and an MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh. His reference work at the Barco Law Library (Pittsburgh) gave him a unique perspective on governance and litigation. Kevin has a long list of interests, including reading and writing, biking, tennis, hiking, Web design/blogging, live music, and caving (this may prove the "atypical librarian" label!).
Kevin has a clear handle on his approach to his new position. He wants to train students to consider the veracity of the sources of information during their research rather than simply accepting whatever is found. As he puts it, "I'd prefer that a student be capable of critically evaluating a source rather than being able to construct a good search string."
Departures
Barbara Koeller - Barbara retired from her position as Assistant Director of Library Services/Head of the AV Library in December of 2004. During her 11 years at the College, she established a warm rapport with faculty, staff, and students, and made it her mission to build an educationally sound and diverse audiovisual collection. The excellent AV collection we now have is due to Barbara's years of hard work. She will be missed in the Library, but she is intending to retain links to the College campus as she comes back to attend book discussions, lectures, film showings and special events. We all wish Barbara the very best for a happy and healthy retirement.
Connie Speier - A former part-time Government Documents Clerk in the Library, Connie is now the Administrative Assistant in the College's Social Sciences Division. She's very busy inputting course information, managing evaluations and book orders, and keeping up with the many requirements of such a busy office. We wish her luck in her new position.
Michaeleen Dougherty - Michaeleen is now working as a Circulation Clerk at Gwynedd Mercy College. Her former co-workers wish her the best, and plan to keep in touch.
