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Education Background:
Bachelor of Music, Ithaca College; Master of Music, University of New Mexico; Master of Science in Library and Information Science, Pratt Institute
What was your professional background before your current position?
Prior to coming to Alfred State College, I was the Systems and Technical Services Librarian at Raritan Valley Community College in Somerville, NJ. Previously, I had been the Systems Librarian at Ocean County College in Toms River, NJ. In both positions, I provided instruction and reference in addition to responsibilities in my title.
Describe your current position and what do you like best about it:
I currently oversee operations in the Hinkle Library in Alfred as well as in our branch library at our Wellsville campus. This includes supervising four full time librarians, one full time library assistant, and two part time support aides. We provide services such as information literacy instruction and offer outreach events like game nights. So far, my favorite thing about working at ASC is the people. The library staff are welcoming and enthusiastic, campus coworkers are friendly and collaborative, and students seem excited to be here!
What has been your biggest professional challenge?
Finding the right work life balance!
What other organizations are you involved with?
I just joined SUNYLA. Outside of librarianship, I play trumpet in the Hornell Area Wind Ensemble.
What advice would you give to someone new to the field?
Try to get involved in different aspects of librarianship to find out what you like the best! Even if you stay in one type of library (academic, public, school, etc.) there are still many different responsibilities that you can pursue.
Are there any tips you would like to share that help you get things done?
I use a free online project manger platform called KanbanFlow that helps me organize, visualize, and track progress.
Favorite web tools or websites:
I like Voyant Tools, a free online platform for text mining. I've used it for a couple different projects that I either presented or published about.
What are you most proud of?
Being an academic library director!
What is one thing you would you like to learn?
I'd like to take singing lessons.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Doing all the upstate New York things that I could only do sporadically for the past 14 or so years! Apple picking, wine tasting, freezing at a Bills game, seeing more of my family in Rochester, the Lilac Festival - and so many things about this south central region that are new to me (which includes getting to know Alfred and the folks here)!
Welcome back to the region Janelle!
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