Volume 34, Issue 2
Page 1
Department of Library Science & Instructional Technology
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Volume 34, Issue 2
Spring 2013
An UNEXPECTED CAREER PATH
Lindsey Riegner ‘12, Director, Boyertown Community Library,
Berks County Public Libraries
Chair Speaks
I used to see myself as only a school librarian,
since the KU Library Science program is tailored Your Added Entries
toward school libraries. Then the position as
Director at the Boyertown Community Library
Spring Book Review
opened and I was the perfect fit. I grew up in
the Boyertown area and frequented the library
as a child. I not only understand the culture of Alpha Beta Alpha
the Boyertown area, I am part of the culture. I
have since become the Director of the
Boyertown Community Library and love every
day of my job.
I love that I am helping people of all ages every
day. I love the patrons at my library and enjoy
helping people with problems such as finding a
book that they couldn't find elsewhere or helping someone figure out the unemployment
website. A few months back, the library clerks and I took some time to teach a patron
how to use our computer catalog. Just this week, I heard him helping someone who was
struggling to use the catalog. I felt like a proud parent, watching their child help
others. The joy I feel in helping patrons solve everyday issues is very satisfying.
KU helped me to learn all of the basic skills such as the organization and cataloging of
materials, and how to maintain a library's collection. However, the most helpful classes
were the ones involving the newest computer programs and technology. I have always
considered myself computer savvy, but these classes taught me about some amazing, free
online sites as well as software that I have referenced in my current job and passed on to
patrons to use.
One thing I didn't learn in graduate school was some of the "extra" jobs that are required
in public library. I was well prepared for the administrative tasks of becoming a school
librarian, but being a public librarian holds many
different duties for which I was not
Story continued on pg. 3
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Feature Article
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Graduate Update
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Where Are They Now 4
New Courses
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Library History
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Volume 34, Issue 2
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The Chair Speaks
Dr. Eloise Long
“I’m my own Grandpa” is a song about a man who becomes a stepfather to his own stepmother. Written by
Dwight Latham and Moe Jaffe, it was performed in 1947, and is often used as a teaser when beginning a study
of genealogy.
So there is your teaser – I’m going to be teaching a genealogy
course during Summer I this year. Actually, as I go out into the
public libraries during fieldwork assignments, I’m finding that
patrons looking for genealogical information are frequent library
users. The Genealogy Committee of the History Section of the
Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) supports this
finding and suggests the following:
Librarians should be trained to assist patrons in becoming information literate in genealogical research. This means that librarians need to know how to assist patrons in deciding what information is needed by the patrons to meet their genealogical goals,
and in locating, evaluating, and using that information. Librarians
also have a role in collecting, preserving, and making accessible
materials needed by those doing genealogical research.
Based on RUSA’s suggestions, we designed an online course that should be extremely helpful in finding
information about your Family Tree and that of your patrons.
This course is part of a continuing effort to offer more opportunities within the field of local history. In
fall, Prof. Roseanne Perkins offers a course, Preservation and Digitization of Archives and Special Collections. Additionally, we have students completing fieldwork hours at the Kutztown Historical Society
and the Berks County Historical Society.
These courses can be taken as professional credits or as part of a program. Check it out; you might find
that rich ancestor (or a black sheep).
Librarian Remembered
Frances C. Keever, 87 died September 18, 2012 of natural causes. She was the widow of the late Mathews S.
“Bud” Keever, Sr., who died in 1993. She was an Elementary School Librarian for the Conrad Weiser School District for 28 years, retiring in 1993.
On a personal note, Mrs. Keever was my cooperating librarian in 1971. I thought I wanted to become a high
school librarian; she changed my mind. She said I was enthusiastic and optimistic. It was she who instilled those
qualities; I should have told her that before she died.
Eloise Long ‘72, ‘75
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prepared. While my daily jobs include ordering books,
handling patron issues and helping patrons learn how to
use the library, I did not anticipate handling maintenance
issues and being a landlord (we have three rental
units). Recently, this has included ordering a new oven
for a tenant, ordering a new hot water heater tank for
the basement and cleaning up the sewage in the basement when the pipe burst. They can't teach that in
school! Thank goodness I have amazing staff that assists
me with the challenges.
We are in the very early stages of a capital campaign. We
currently sit on 3,900 square feet and are bursting at the
seams. We do not have any more room for books, our
display area is limited, and our meeting space is tiny. We
hope to either move into a bigger building or build a
building that is suitable for our needs. This is going to be a
huge undertaking but I am excited that we are growing so
rapidly that we barely fit in our current location.
A library doesn't always have to be quiet. Our library is
vibrant and alive with children running around after story
time and adults meeting for Scrabble games. We enjoy our
patrons feeling as comfortable as they possibly can when
they visit us. Of course, there are quiet areas where patrons
can work and concentrate, but our circulation and children's
areas are bustling with activity. If your patrons feel
comfortable in their atmosphere and with your staff, your
days are more likely to run smoothly. It is similar to
working in a school library - if your students feel comfortable with you and are familiar with the rules, you are more
likely to have successful lessons and productive library time.
Also, don't rule out the possibility of working in a public
library. I am thrilled with the position I currently hold even
though I never expected to work outside of a school
library. And Confucius was right - "Choose a job you love,
and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
New Position for Kutztown Graduate
The State Library is pleased to announce that Sara Gerhart has joined the staff as
the School Library Advisor.
In this role, Sara will provide leadership and expertise to school library personnel, classroom teachers and administrators in areas such as staffing, Model
School Library Curriculum, Common Core Standards, best practices. In addition,
she will serve as the Act 48 coordinator and school library liaison for the POWER
Library Project and Pennsylvania Electronic Library Catalog (formerly known as
Access PA Database) program.
Sara comes to us from the Daniel Boone School District where she was the High
School Librarian for eight years. Sara received her B.S.Ed. in Library Science and
Master’s in Library Science from Kutztown University. Books and reading were a
large part of her childhood and turned into a passion as an adult.
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Updates From The Field
Jenn Miller ‘10, Librarian, Lincoln Elementary
I work at Lincoln Elementary in Gettysburg Area School
District. One thing I love about being a librarian is there is
a never a dull moment. Every day has its excitements and
surprises. I wake up every morning excited to go to work
just as I did the first day of school.
KU Library Science Department has taught me so many
wonderful things that naming just one is hard. I appreciate their love of librarianship which they instill and share
each day and for guiding me to professional organizations
such as PSLA that advocates and shows passion for what
they do. I'm proud to be a Kutztown University Alumna.
Dana Susko ‘10, Instructor, Boston University
I graduated from Penn State in 2007 with an undergraduate degree in Secondary Education/English. I worked for three years in
the field, teaching middle and high school Language Arts classes
in Allentown and East Penn school districts.
Then, after receiving my MLS from KU, I began my experience in
the Educational Media and Technology doctorate program at Boston University. After this semester, I have two classes left to complete the degree, in addition to my dissertation. During my program, I took classes in Web 2.0 tools, HTML and programming,
instructional design, research methods, educational theory, and
the history of educational technology. Also, I have served as a TA
for 4 semesters for a class that teaches undergraduates how/why
to integrate audio, video, and images into their teaching (as well
as web site creation) to help support all learners in the classroom.
I will serve as the main instructor for this class starting in the
fall. There is a possibility that I will also serve as the instructor for
a graduate level class in the class titled Web 2.0 Tools for Educators.
P.S. Had a note from Dana that she and her
husband were fine following the Boston tragedy.
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New Courses to Meet Every Student’s Needs
This semester the department was excited to offer many new courses in both library science and instructional technology.
The first new course offered to library science students
was an adult literature class taught by Dr. Long. In this
online class students focus on evaluating print and digital resources for adult library users. Students are required to read a variety of genres and authors as a way to accommodate all reading interests and popular culture.
The second class offered was an accounting class for librarians. This course, taught by accounting professor, Norm Sigmund, is for library students or librarians wishing to strengthen knowledge of Pennsylvania law as it pertains to accounting and budgeting in public and special libraries. This course takes
basic library budgeting to the next level and gives students a chance to apply what they have learned
to real world situations. This course would be valuable for practicing librarians as well.
A new instructional technology class was also offered this semester. An
assistive technology class is being taught by Dr. Harmer. Students in this
course are exposed to different assistive technologies, with a large focus on
iPad applications. Students get hands-on experience while using the department’s iPad cart. Throughout the class students keep an assistive technology toolkit, where they compile any and all of the resources they have found
that they think might be useful to them in the future.
New Technology
The department is also home to two new pieces of technology. The first is a set of 20 iPads and cart.
These iPads are being used in many library science and instructional technology classes. The second
new item is a Smart Table. This interactive table is being incorporated into the various classes within
the department.
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Lisa Earnshaw ’12 has a long term substitute
position at Gilbertsville Elementary School.
Erwin Woodye, Jr. ’01 is currently the Chief
Librarian at the University of Belize.
Colleen Buck ‘08, Library Skills Teacher at Oak
Ridge Elementary School, shares one of the joys
of teaching:
During high school graduation, educators are invited to wear graduation garb and be part of the ceremony. While wandering around afterwards to
congratulate former students, a current elementary student came up to me from behind and
screamed, "No Way! Mrs. Buck, you get to wear
Gryffindor colors! So Cool!" I laughed and assured
her that she could wear Harry's Alma mater colors
if she went for her Library Science Master's at
Kutztown University.
Dr. Long and Professor Perkins share a moment
with the recent graduates.
Laura Van Cott ’10 is the new librarian of the Susquehanna Branch Library in the Susquehanna
Historical Society & Free Library Association.
Allison Good ’11 is now a high school librarian at
North Brunswick High School in North Carolina.
Megan Revelt ’12 has written a novel (Beyond the Eyes)
that has been out on Kindle since August 2012. She is
also an elementary librarian in Chambersburg, PA.
Save the Date
PSLA Conference in Hershey
May 2-4, 2013
ALA Conference in Chicago
June 27-July 2, 2013
Teen Library Day
TBD
Fall Book Review
November 14, 2013
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Brandon Digwood ’06 is now working as a Youth
Services Librarian at the Mt. Pleasant Branch
Library in Washington, D. C.
Interested in being in Added Entries?
Send an email to libsci@kutztown.edu
updating us about a new job, spouse,
or baby. We’d love to hear from you!
Volume 34, Issue 2
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Spring Book Review
Rescheduled for
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
7:00PM-9:00PM
Alumni Auditorium
(This is a new location)
Student Union Building
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear reviews of new books, receive a copy of the Spring Book Review, and select books.
A Little Walk Down Memory Lane
Kutztown University’s first library celebrated its
100th birthday in March 2013. Built in 1913 this
building housed the library for more than 50 years.
One of the library’s
most stunning features was the “superb
rotunda”. Because of
the rotunda the
library was regarded,
and rightly so, as one
of the finest buildings
of its kind in the
state.
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It wasn’t until 1968 that the Rohrbach Library was built
and the library changed locations. During this time
students helped carry books from the old library to the
new library. The Keystonia nicknamed this event the
“Book Walk”
Presently, students spend much of their time studying and
working in the Rohrbach Library.
Volume 34, Issue 2
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ABA Spring Banquet
Graduating seniors posed for a picture.
Professor Kevin McCloskey author of
Mrs. Fitz’s Flamingos spoke to ABA.
Kutztown University
Department of Library Science and
Instructional Technology
P. O. Box 730
Kutztown, PA 19530-0730
Phone: 610-683-4300 Fax: 610-683-1326
Email: libsci@kutztown.edu
http://www2.kutztown.edu/libraryscience
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President: Gwen Fisher
Vice-President: Meredith Bechtel
Secretary: Emily Becker
Treasurer: Shelby Foster
Historian: Josh Fisher
Advisors: Dr. Long, Professor
Wanamaker, & Professor Perkins