SUE POLANKA
8603 Adams Road, Huber Heights, Ohio 45424
937-305-3158, spolanka@yahoo.com
CAREER OVERVIEW
Head, Reference and Instruction, Wright State University Libraries
Coordinator of Reference and Instruction, University of Dayton Roesch Library
Continuing Education Consultant, Texas State Library
Reference and Government Documents Librarian, Texas State Library
Reference Librarian, Dayton Metro Library
8 years
6 years
2 years
1 year
4 years
EDUCATION
Master of Library Science
Bachelor of Arts, Communication/Marketing
Kent State University
University of Dayton
1995
1990
WORK Experience
HEAD, REFERENCE AND INSTRUCTION







Wright State University Libraries
Provide leadership for a team of 16 professionals and 10 students serving a student population of 16,000.
During my tenure I have increased staff by 4, won a WSU President’s Award of Excellence for my
Department and was awarded an LSTA mini-grant.
Manage the Student Technology Assistance Center (STAC), a multimedia production and podcasting lab.
Member of the Management Advisory Council, participating in strategic planning of library services.
Created the Librarian for First Year and Distance Learning Initiatives position, increasing library instruction
for First Year Experience classes by 60 %.
Created an information commons with group study functionality, library and IT assistance, laptop checkout,
and virtual reference service (IM/SMS).
Redesigned information literacy courses to include web design, digital storytelling, and podcasting.
Established the award winning blog on eBooks and libraries, No Shelf Required.
CHAIR, OHIOLINK USER SERVICES COMMITTEE
Representing Wright State University Libraries on the USC



2004 – PRESENT
2009 – 2011
Lead the committee, comprising 25 representatives of state, independent, and community colleges and the
State Library of Ohio through strategic decisions on the usability, design, training, and implementation of
OhioLINK products and services.
Represent the USC and lobby for resources at the OhioLINK Library Advisory Council (LAC) meetings.
Founding member of the Discovery Layer Task Force. Designed the configuration for a unified search of
OhioLINK and member library content. Participated in the ITN and proposal review processes.
BOOKS & JOURNALS
No Shelf Required II: Use and Management of Electronic Books. Chicago: ALA Editions, Editor, 2012.
E-Reference Context and Discoverability in Libraries: Issues and Concepts. Hershey, PA: IGI
Publishing, Editor, 2012.
No Shelf Required: E-books in Libraries. Chicago: ALA Editions, Editor, 2011
The No Shelf Required Guide to E-Book Purchasing. Library Technology Reports 47.8 (2011), Editor.
“The Changing Landscape of the Research Library.” Journal of Library Administration Special Issue.
Editor. May, 2009.
PUBLICATIONS
“A Primer on Ebooks for Libraries Just Starting with Downloadable Media.” Library Journal, 137.7
(2012): 42-44.
"Chapter 1: Purchasing E-Books In Libraries." Library Technology Reports 47.8 (2011): 4-7.
"Dispatches From The Field. A Guide To Buying Ebooks." American Libraries 42.11/12 (2011): 32-30.
"Improving Library Services With E-Books." Information Outlook 15.5 (2011): 13-15.
“CQ Press Creates the Wow Factor with First Street.” Information Today NewsBreaks, April 14, 2011.
http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/CQ-Press-Creates-the-Wow-Factor-With-First-Street74924.asp
“SciVerse Hub Application Connects Researchers with U.S. Government Datasets.” Information Today
NewsBreaks. December 20, 2010. http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/SciVerse-HubApplication-Connects-Researchers-With-US-Government-Datasets-72876.asp
“New Image Search From Elsevier’s SciVerse ScienceDirect.” Information Today NewsBreaks.
November 18, 2010. <http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/New-Image-Search-fromElseviers-SciVerse-ScienceDirect-71859.asp>
“Fall E-reference Update, 2010: Part 2, E-books.” Booklist. 107.6 (15 Nov. 2010): 34-38.
“Elsevier’s SciVerse Hub: Transforming Scientific Research.” Information Today NewsBreaks.
September 9, 2010. <http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/Elseviers-SciVerseHubTransforming-Scientific-Research-69866.asp>
“No Shelf Required: A Moderated Discussion of the Issues Surrounding eBooks, for Librarians and
Publishers. 2008. < http://www.libraries.wright.edu/noshelfrequired/ >
“The New NetLibrary.” Booklist 105.5 (1 Nov. 2008): 72.
“Options for the E-Reference Collection.” Booklist. 104.5 (1 Nov. 2007): 84.
“Options for the E-Reference Collection.” Booklist 103.5 (1 Nov. 2006): 93.
“Research Blueprint.” August 2003. This tutorial for first year students is only available through the
University of Dayton’s course management system.
COLUMNS
“Off the Shelf.” Quarterly column in Booklist. January, 2008 to present.
“EBook Buzz.” Bimonthly column in ONLINE. January, 2012 to present.
HONORS/AWARDS
Elected to the American Library Association Council (ALA Council), 2012.
Elected Vice President/President Elect of the Academic Library Association of Ohio, 2011.
“Ebook Guru,” Library Journal Mover & Shaker, March, 2011
1st Place, Academic Blogs, Salem Press Library Blog Awards, 2010