Ashland

As of July 1, Ed Krakora is the new library director at Ashland University. Ed come to Ashland from Heidelberg College where he was the library director since 1990

Bowling Green

Tom Atwood, Dean of Bowling Green State University Libraries, retired July 1. Atwood joined BGSU in June 2007 after serving as director of the Ocasek Medical Library at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM), in Rootstown. Under his leadership, the University Libraries improved computing technology in the library by incorporating two new computer classrooms into Jerome, upgrading the electronic reading room and expanding public computing in the lobby. Last fall, the libraries collaborated with the University Bookstore and some faculty members to pilot a textbook rental-reserve project to enable some students to rent textbooks on an hourly basis.

Sara Bushong has been appointed Interim Dean of the University Libraries effective July 1, 2009. Bushong joined the BGSU faculty in 2000, as Head Librarian of the Curriculum Resource Center in the University Libraries (UL). Prior to her appointment to the BGSU faculty, Bushong held posts as District Elementary Librarian and Technology Curriculum Coordinator for the Perrysburg Exempted Village Schools, and choral music teacher in Whigham, Georgia. Bushong earned a Master of Education degree in Library and Educational Media from BGSU, and a Master of Library Science degree from Kent State University. She has served as chair of the UL Archival Collections and Branches department since 2005. This past spring, after a national search, she accepted the appointment of Associate Dean. Bushong also teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in the School of Teaching and Learning at BGSU.

Juli McCarroll is the new  Coordinator of Circulation in Access Services.  McCarroll brings a wealth of leadership and technological experience through previous positions she has held and holds a MLIS from Drexel University.

Joelle Thomas began as the  Associate Librarian/Instructor in the Library Teaching & Learning department. Thomas brings a passion for and experience with both classroom teaching and one-on-one instruction, and has taught at Kent State University and in Japan.  Thomas holds an MLS from Kent State University.
Elisabeth Moser began as the Depository Supervisor in May.  Moser earned her MLIS Degree from Kent State University, and brings strong management and supervisory skills from her previous work experience, most recently as Adult and Technical Services Librarian at the Pemberville Public Library.

Case Western Reserve

Patricia Butts, Library Assistant in the Bibliographic and Metadata Services department, announced her retirement after 23 years at the library.

Earnestine Adeyemon, Electronic Resources Librarian, wrote the following article
Integrating Digital Literacies into Outreach Services for Underserved Youth Populations which appeared in the publication The Reference Librarian, 1541-1117, Volume 50, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 85 – 98

E. Gail Reese, Associate Director for Collections and Personnel, presented a poster session at the ACRL 2009 Conference in Seattle, “Future Connections@KSL, Creating Tomorrow’s Workforce through a Community Mentoring Program.” The Future Connections Program is in its 7th year at Kelvin Smith Library.  The Library hosts students selected by teachers and counselors in the Cleveland and suburban schools to participate in an eight week summer program.  The students, Juniors from their respective schools, are placed in cultural and educational institutions for the first four weeks and in a business setting for the final four weeks.  The Kelvin Smith Library component introduces the students to the library and its staff while they receive training in all aspects of a library’s operation.  The students are encouraged to consider librarianship as a future vocation.

Case Western Reserve University has been picked as one of five campuses to pilot the new Kindle DX this fall. The Kindles will be provided to up to 50 undergraduate students to explore their ability to serve as a textbook replacement and as an instructional tool. The experience will be tracked and assessed for how it may change the educational process. The Kelvin Smith Library will be promoting and exploring access to electronic information such as journals and e-books, and has already adapted the electronic reserve system to function with the Kindle. The idea percolated from simultaneous conversations that came together after the library staff had time to play with the first generation Kindle and a chemistry professor was exploring new technologies for his classroom.
Sharlane Gubkin, Head of Preservation, received word that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will be awarding a core set of Conservation books – the “Connecting to Collections Bookshelf”to the library.

Miami University Middletown

John Burke, library director at the Middletown regional campus of Miami University, was promoted to associate librarian and granted continuing contract effective July 1, 2009.  John joined the staff of the Middletown campus in 2002 and was named director in 2006.  He has just published a third edition of his book, the Neal-Schuman Library Technology Companion: a Basic Guide for Library Staff (Neal-Schuman Publishers,2009).

Oberlin College

Ray English, Azariah Smith Root director of libraries at Oberlin College, was named the 2009 winner of the Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award. English received a cash award and a citation during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, at the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) President’s Program held Monday, July 13.

The Atkinson Award, which recognizes an academic librarian who has made significant contributions in the area of library automation, library management, or library development and research, is jointly sponsored by four ALA divisions.

“Ray English has provided transformative leadership within his own institution, his state and region, in ACRL [the Association of College and Research Libraries] and as a national leader in scholarly communications,” said Sarah Michalak, Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award Committee Chair and University Librarian at the University of North
Carolina-Chapel Hill. “The award has been given to a college librarian only once before in its 21 year history.”

Ohio Northern

Jenny Kunkler is originally from Stone Mountain, Georgia. She received her BA in English from the College of Wooster, and later her MLIS from Kent State. At Ohio Northern University she will be the Cataloging and Serials Librarian, and she is looking forward to the challenging aspects that may arise from both sides of the position. When not buried in books and serials at work, she is usually found spending time with her many  pets or going for a long run around the village of Ada.

The Ohio State University

Betsy Blankenship of the OSU Marion campus recently co-authored with with Patricia S. Wood Electronic Reserve on a Regional Campus: The Evolution of the Service. Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserve. 19(2), April, p. 131-135.

Southern State Community College

The library staff at Southern State Community College accompanied several students taking children’s literature to the ALA annual conference in Chicago July 9-15th.  A total of 18 from SSCC attended ALA this year, visiting the exhibits and attending sessions.  Louis Mays, professor and librarian, co-presented with Paula Deal (INFOhio) and others at an early morning session.  His program was entitled “Closing the Gap: Making Information Literacy Seamless Across K-16”.   Students spent their time visiting exhibits and getting autographed copies of their favorite books for children and young adults.  In addition to library staff and students, faculty members in education and chemistry also attend ALA this year.
The Fayette Campus in Washington Court House has been renovated and expanded to double the previous size.  If you are in the Fayette County area, please stop by the campus to see the new community room, classrooms, and offices.  The library at Fayette Campus recently moved to a new location, and once the renovation is completed, the library will have more room overall.  Stop by the campus and visit with Carissa Thatcher and her staff for a tour of the facility.  The grand opening will take place in August.
Wittenberg University
Doug Lehman, Director of Thomas Library, was elected to serve a one-year term as Secretary of the College Libraries Section of ACRL for 2009-10. Doug will also serve of as chair of the SOCHE Library Council for 2009-10.