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What's New - Alumni
Alumni News
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- In Memoriam
Check out the "What's New at SLIS" link for information on the 2008 SLISebraton.
Congratulations to Lisa Wells (MLIS ' 03), Moore Public Library for being recognized by Library Journal as a "Mover and Shaker for 2008."
Congratulations to Mandy Godfrey (MLIS '06), for being named Deer Creek Public School’s District Teacher of the Year. You can read about her work and honor in the Daily Oklahoman (registration may be required).
Congratulations to John Allen (MLIS '04) for being named as a finalist for Teacher of the Year in the Oklahoma City Public School District.
Congratulations to the Norman Oklahoma Public Schools, awarded School Library Media Program of the Year from the American Library Association. The award recognizes school districts for exemplary school library media programs that are fully integrated into the school's curriculum. Winners receive a crystal obelisk and $10,000 each. This program is directed by Katherine Lewis (MLIS '91).
Alumni News
Joshua Peck (MLIS '07)
- Occupation - Collections Manager/Tulsa Historical Society and Museum
- Email - unpavedroad at yahoo dot com
- Website - cinerobot.blogspot.com
- Recent Events - Organizing Brothers of the Brush Beard Growing Competition of 2007, establishing the Twin Peaks Viewing Society of Tulsa, organizing the Tulsa Vintage Baseball Association, managing the time capsule portion of the Plymouth Belvedere that will be dug up in Tulsa in June, playing shows and recording songs for electronic band Buildings.
- Message to fellow alumni/students - Technology is important but so is traditional, time tested skills and strategies.
Caydee (Stalcup) Womack (MLIS '07)
- Occupation - Nathan Hale High School Librarian
- Email - caydee at gmail dot com
Lisa Wood (MLIS '07)
- Occupation - Children's Services Coordinator/Metropolitan Library System
- Email - elwood.webb at gmail dot com
- Favorite memories of SLIS - Dr. Wallace and Dr. Van Fleet. They are the best!
Amy Wharton (MLIS '07)
- Occupation - Reference and Electronic Services Librarian, University of Virginia Law School, Charlottesville, VA (Starting June '08)
- Email - amyannwharton at yahoo dot com
- Favorite memories of SLIS - The faculty's remarkable dedication to teaching.
Fernando Este (MLIS '06) is now the head librarian at the Claremore, Oklahoma, Will Rogers Public Library. He is featured (with photo) in the Claremore Daily Press Online.
William Gaskill (MLIS '06)
- Occupation - Librarian, Charleston School of Law in South Carolina
- Email - willbox25 at yahoo dot com
- Recent Events - In addition to reference duties in Charleston, I will be teaching advanced legal research and may pick up a section of legal writing next fall.
- Message to fellow alumni/students - While very excited and nervous about starting my first professional job, I will miss the SLIS family in Oklahoma. It has been a great two years in Norman.
- Favorite Memories of SLIS: Dr. Wallace's arbitrary grading, Dr. Van Fleet losing control of her reference class, Dr. Taylor's in class exercises, Dr. Lester's unbounded irritation with my inability to use a spell checker and Maggie Ryan pushing us to complete our degrees. Plus the outstanding students all committed to helping people find information they need to improve their lives.
Amanda Lemon (MLIS '06)
- Occupation - Reference and Instructional Services Librarian at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK
- Email - alemon2 at ucok dot edu
- Recent Events - Presented at the Summer 2007 COIL Workshop at NSU-BA.
Nelson at work - click on the picture for a larger image. Nelson Dent (MLIS '05)
- Occupation - Information Services Librarian, Norman Public Library
- Email - ndent at pls.lip.ok.us
- Website - www.justsoyouknow.us
- Recent Events - I am on the SLIS Alumni Board and serve as editor of SLIS Alumni News which now can be accessed online. My wife, LaVetta Dent, Branch Manager of the Village Library in Oklahoma City and I are very proud parents of Mason Dent who just turned two. The MLIS program did not prepare us for the Terrible Twos...
- Message to fellow alumni/students - The MLIS program is radically different since 2005. This is such an odd statement to make because it was only a few months ago when I graduated, but with the incredible advancement in technology, how we access and assimilate information changes constantly. Please stay ahead with the technological curve. Life moves faster than you think.
- Favorite memories of SLIS - The professors are wonderful and they extend their knowledge and expertise out into the workplace after you graduate. They emphasized the fact that librarians never stop learning and the profession is constantly evolving. I now call myself a lifelong learner and I owe this to them.
Kristie Boucher (MLIS '04)
- Occupation - Associate Director-Crawford County Library System, Van Buren, AR
- Email - saloluist at sbcglobal dot net
- Favorite memories of SLIS - Meeting fellow freedom of information fighters. :) And going out to The Library bar. ;)
Chad Harding (MLIS '04) has been promoted from library director at the Osan Air Force Base in Korea to Command Librarian for the Air Force in the Pacific Region. The position is in Hawaii, and I'm due to arrive around April 15th. He sends a hello to everyone.
Sara Rose (MLIS '04)
- Occupation - Librarian, Austin American-Statesman, Austin TX
Aiden Street (MLIS '04)
- Occupation - Children's Services Manager Moore Public Library, Pioneer Library System
- Email - astreet at pls.lib.ok.us
- Website - www.justsoyouknow.us
- Recent Events - Current secretary of OLA 07-08
Member OLA, PLA, ALA
Rotary International Group Study Exchange to France May 07
VP Moore Area Arts and Humanities Council
Chair, Leadership Moore Board- Message to fellow alumni/students - Hi to all my fellow class mates, we need a reunion!
- Favorite memories of SLIS - I enjoyed every aspect! Meeting people who shared your interests from all over the state and learning from professors who were knowledgeable and truly cared about your success.
Kristen Gettys (MLIS '03)
- Occupation - Youth Services Librarian/ South Broken Arrow Branch, Tulsa City County Library
- Email - literarylion at yahoo dot com
Karen Antell (MLIS '02), has recently taken the position as Head of the Reference Department at Bizzell Library. She as also been named as an Emerging Leader for 2007 by the American Library Association.
Click on picture for a larger image.Doug Valentine, (MLIS '02)
- Occupation - Elementary Librarian, Richardson Texas.
- Recent Events - This year I was named teacher of the month and teacher of the year at my school. I was also named as one of only five elementary STAR teachers in the district for 2007. I was a finalist for district teacher of the year and the kids at my school nominated me (on their own!) and I won Richardson Wal-mart Teacher of the Year. I am blessed to have such wonderful support of my library program.
Melissa Weathers, (MLIS '02)
- Occupation - Manager of Library Operations, Metropolitan Library System, Del City Library
- Recent Events - Promoted from Young Adult Services Library in Midwest City to Manager of Operations in December 2005. Expecting first child in July of 2007 with husband Bruce.
Jeanne Gaunce (MLIS '01)
- Occupation - University Archivist/Reference Librarian, Cameron University, Lawton, OK
- Email - jgaunce at cameron dot edu
- I have received Faculty Development Grant monies to attend the Image Permanence Institute in Rochester, NY August 17-24, 2007. This is a great opportunity for me to learn more about the characteristics of photographs, how to preserve them, and the digitization of collections. I look forward to sharing my experience with my colleagues.
Leslie Jones (MLIS '01)
Click on the picture for a larger image. Leslie Jones (MLIS '01)
- Occupation - Collection Services Coordinator (Oversee Acquisitions and Bibliographic Services) at Pasco County Library System, Florida.
- Email - straydogbooks at yahoo dot com
- Recent Events - I was nominated and won a position on the 2007 Movers & Shakers list, sponsored by the American Library Association. This annual honor is presented to emerging leaders in the library world.
I won spot by being the prime-mover behind the acquisition of an educational database called Games on Demand, making the Pasco County Library System the first library in the nation to provide this service to its customers. This database provides the best in "edutainment," offering over 200 educational games online through Pasco County Library's computers.
The project tooks eight months of perseverance to work out the technical details and to negotiate licensing and pricing.- Message to fellow alumni/students - Be open to new ideas. Be a creative and innovative thinker. You have to create an environment where risk-taking is okay. You have to be willing to take risks yourself, and you have to encourage your staff to take risks as well. You have to let them know that if it doesn't work out, it's okay. You learn, you try to make it better and you move on.
- Favorite memories of SLIS - I attended classes at the Tulsa campus where we watched the professors on a television. Out of necessity, the Tulsa students banded together to work through questions and issues. This had the interesting side effect of creating a very collegial, "we're in this together" atmosphere.
Cylinda Richardson-Martin (MLIS '01)
- Occupation - Circulation Manger, Pioneer library Systems, Moore Public Library
- Recent Events - Since graduating from OU SLIS I have worked at the Moore Public Library in the Information Services Department, as a public computer class trainer, and in outreach services. I have served as an intern branch manager. I currently continue to work in the Pioneer Library System as the Circulation Manager at the Moore Branch. I have attended Leadership Moore and the MPLA Ghost Ranch Leadership Institute along with numerous other trainings and conferences. My most exciting project was a joint venture with my husband. Our Daughter Olivia was born October 19, 2004.
- Message to fellow alumni/students - "I always wanted to work in Libraries. I never knew the opportunities for training and travel the profession would bring."
- Favorite memories of SLIS - The School of Library and Information Studies was wonderful because I was able to accomplish my goals, to meet friends, and make long term library world connections. I only wish that I had spent more time in student lead activities to get to know even more people.
Catherine "Cat" Bark (MLIS '00)
- Occupation - Librarian II, OU Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication
- Webpage - http://librarystories.blogspot.com
- Favorite memories of SLIS - Making so many friends and acquaintances that I'm still in touch with.
- Message to fellow alumni/students - Lean on each other. They are in the same boat.
Adriana Edwards-Johnson (MLIS '99)
- Occupation - Virtual Library Manager, Pioneer Library System, Norman OK
- Webpage - http://librarystories.blogspot.com
- Current Projects - working on http://www.bigreadok.com
- Message to fellow alumni/students - "Technology is your friend"
- Favorite memories of SLIS - "Friends I made that became spectacular colleagues."
Jean Bielke-Rodenbiker (MLIS '98)
- Occupation - Adult Services Librarian - Hennepin County Library
- Email - Jbielke-r at hclib dot org
Jerrie Hall (MLIS '98)
- Occupation - Associate Director & Head of Technical Services, OSU-Tulsa Library
- Email - jerrie.hall at okstate dot edu
- Webpage - http://www.osu-tulsa.okstate.edu/library/
- Message to fellow alumni/students - "Learn that technology!! "
- Favorite memories of SLIS - "The interaction with the professors."
Xiaotian Chen (MLIS '97) UPDATED,
- Occupation - Electronic Services Librarian/Associate Professor, Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois.
- Email - ousooners97 at gmail dot com
- Recent Events - Published Refereed Articles.
- Chen, Xiaotian. "Web-Exclusive Articles in Traditionally Print Periodicals." Serials Review, 33 (4). 2007.
- Chen, Xiaotian. "Overlap between Traditional Periodical Indexes and Newer Mega Indexes." Serials Review, 32 (4). 2006.
- Chen, Xiaotian. "MetaLib, WebFeat, and Google: The Strengths and Weaknesses of Federated Search Engines Compared with Google." Online Information Review, 30 (4). 2006.
- Chen, Xiaotian. "Figures and Tables Omitted from Online Periodical Articles: A Comparison of Vendors and Information Missing from Full-text Databases." Internet Reference Services Quarterly, 10 (2). 2005.
- Chen, Xiaotian. "Assessment of Full-Text Sources Used by Serials Management Systems, OpenURL Link Resolvers, and Imported E-journal MARC Records." Online Information Review, 28 (6). 2004.
Of these articles, the one published at Internet Reference Services Quarterly was selected as one of the best items in information technology literature around the world by the April 2005 issue of Current Cites (http://lists.webjunction.org/currentcites/).
Jennifer England (MLIS '97)
- Occupation - Lower School Librarian/Heritage Hall School
- Email - jlengland@earthlink.net
- Message to fellow alumni/students - EMBRACE THE COMPREHENSIVE!!!! It makes you think and put all the bits and pieces from different classes together just as you will do in the real world. The comprehensive is truly to be valued.
- Favorite memories of SLIS - The close community. Soon-to-be friends at every turn and I'm not the gregarious type.
Cathy Van Hoy (MLIS '86)
- Occupation - Oklahoma Dept of Libraries / Regional Consultant
- Email - ccvhh@swbell.net
- Favorite memories of SLIS - Individual attention from faculty
William Meister Cook, 66, a retired librarian fro the U.S. Department of Transportation, died of leukemia in March. He lived in Columbia, Maryland. He was born in Muskogee, Okla., and graduated from the University of Oklahoma (class of 1963). He worked as a librarian at the Muskogee Public Library before moving to Washington, DC in 1968 to join the Transportation Department. Retired in 1995, Mr. Cook continued his interest in his native state through membership in the Oklahoma Historical Society and volunteered for the American Red Cross.
Glenda Lamb, 73, died February 27th, 2007. She started her library career with Pioneer Library System and served several positions within the system including as branch manager of Noble and Purcell Public Libraries. During that time she received her Master of Library and Information Studies degree (class of 1996). Then she worked as the Director of Public Library of Enid and Garfield County in 1996 until she retired in 2003. Surviving are her husband, Fred of the home; one son, Perry Bassett Lamb of Kennesaw, Ga.; one daughter, Holly Whitfield Lamb of Enid; and one sister, Joan Stallings of Smithville, Va. Glenda was an active member of Oklahoma Library Association, Public Library Association, and the American Library Association. The family requested that memorials may be made in the form of books to be accepted and donated to the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County Oklahoma.
Wendy Mahsetky-Poolaw, 37, an alumna of the University of Oklahoma, School of Library of Information Studies (class of 2000) died in a car accident on Saturday, January 28th, 2006. She is survived by her husband and her son. Most recently, she was employed by the Oklahoma City Museum of Arts as the museum librarian. Services were held at McFarlin memorial Methodist Church in Norman, Oklahoma.