Barbara C. Biggs
4947 State Route 1043, South Shore, KY 41175 phone: 740.464.2974 barbara.biggs@gmail.com
Education
Kent State University, Kent, OH
 MLIS (Masters of Library and Information Science), 2009
Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH
 BA in English, 2002
University of Arizona
 1995-1997, English and Creative Writing major
Experience
Branch Services Manager,
November 2012 to Present
Boyd County Public Library District
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Supervise two branches and Outreach Department, 15 employees
Member of the Management Team and Executive Team
Member of various committees and task forces: Programming, Public
Services, Collection Development, Summer Reading, Volunteer
Coordination
Active participant in Community Outreach
Responsible for hiring, evaluation, and disciplinary duties
Provide reference services
Provide circulation services
Submit interlibrary loan requests
Newspaper writing
Adjunct Instructor,
August 2010 to August 2011
English Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH
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Teach English Composition
Use of technology in the classroom
Reference
August 2009 to August 2010
Associate
Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth, OH
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Work within a budget
Resolve patron complaints
Collection development and maintenance
Work a public desk
Perform Readers’ Advisory and reference services
Member of the Selection Committee
Member of the Staff Association
Collection Development specialty: Young Adult Collection
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Branch Manager
Local History Clerk
Substitute Teacher
AmeriCorps Volunteer
Planned Young Adult Summer Reading programs/incentives
Extensive contact with the public
Prepared monthly newsletter for the reading public
June 2006 to August 2009
Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth, OH
 Oversee daily branch operations
 Supervise staff
 Plan and implement programming
 Work within a budget
 Resolve patron complaints
 Collection development and maintenance (youth, young adult, and adult
collections)
 Prepare monthly reports
 Work a public desk
 Perform Readers’ Advisory and reference services
 Prepared a monthly staff-centered newsletter
 Plan and implement programming to children, young adults, and adults
 Organized a successful and popular adult readers’ group
 Participated in regional summer reading committee (2007) and presented
summer reading program ideas at a SERLS workshop
September 2005 to June 2006
Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth, OH
 Assist patrons with genealogy research
 Cover public desks
September 2004 to June 2005
Indian River School District, Selbyville, DE
 Classroom management
August 2001-August 2002, New Boston Local Schools, New Boston, OH
 Tutor and Mentor to at-risk primary students
 Helped to organize a county-wide school supply drive
 Worked with teachers to incorporate standards into tutoring lesson plans
Computer Skills: Microsoft Office (Word and Publisher), TLC ILS, Internet and World Wide Web skills
References available upon request.
Barbara C. Biggs
4947 State Route 1043, South Shore, KY 41175 phone: 740.464.2974 barbara.biggs@gmail.com
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June 2, 2015
Dear Search Committee:
I am writing to express my great interest in the position of Publicity Coordinator at Portsmouth Public
Library. Currently, I am the Branch Services Manager at Boyd County Public Library (KY). I have been in
this position for 2.5 years. My job entails running two branches and the Outreach department. In total, I
supervise 14 employees. In addition to my supervisory duties, I am also on the Selection Committee, the
Wellness Committee, Summer Reading Committee, and am an active participant in the Management Team
and the Executive Team. My days are atypical and varied: I may be in committee meetings, in the community
promoting the library, working on a schedule, working on collection development, or covering a desk and
answering reference questions or performing readers advisory. I was also hired at the beginning of a branch
remodel, so I have some experience in library design and space planning.
My previous library experience was at Portsmouth Public Library (OH) from 2005-2010, where I started as a
part time clerk in Local History, and was then promoted to Branch Manager, where I oversaw the daily
operations at the Wheelersburg Branch. While working for Portsmouth Public Library, I earned my MLIS
from Kent State University. Due to state-wide budget cuts and staff layoffs at Portsmouth Public Library, I
was relocated to the Main Branch, where I worked reference full time. I was also chosen to be part of the
KnowItNow24/7 team, which answered reference questions in chat and email form from library patrons all
over the state. While working at Portsmouth Public, I became proficient with the TLC ILS. At Boyd County,
I have learned Polaris. In all of my supervisory positions, I have emphasized the importance of customer
service and adhering to library policy.
At Boyd County, we emphasize community partnerships and spend a great deal of time in the community
learning what exactly the library can do to make the community a better place. I spend time meeting with
people from local businesses, finding out what services I can provide to best suit their clientele. I think that
listening is an integral part of community building. I might spend time with an activity director at an adult
daycare, and then find myself in a conference call with a middle grade teacher, helping her decide how to start
a book club in her school and what support the public library can give her. After my employment ended at
Portsmouth Public, I continued to work on a successful levy campaign by going door to door and
volunteering at the levy headquarters. While doing this work, I talked to the public about the value and
importance of a strong library system. I have written about the library for various news outlets, including the
Ashland Daily Independent and the Huntington Herald- Dispatch. I would love to provide those clippings for
you, should you want to see them.
I would be thrilled to meet with you and further discuss my qualifications and interest in working at
Portsmouth Public Library. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Barbara Biggs