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December 16, 2021 North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 5 WESLEYAN PROFILES Profiles: Librarians Enjoy Supporting Wesleyan Students Wesleyan’s reference staff wants the college community to know that there is more to the library than books and databases. And, believing their services are under-utilized, they urge students to involve the reference department in their projects, whether they’re writ ing a research paper or explor ing a personal interest. “If you need help, ask,” said Terrence Martin. The Decree compiled the following profiles of the three librarians, all members of the Wesleyan faculty. Chip Larkin HOMETOWN: Born in New York City. Grew up in Matawan, New Jersey. JOB TITLE: Assistant Professor, In struction and Assessment Librarian. AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION: Infor mation literacy, library instruction, archives and special collections, makerspace (3D printing). DATE OF EMPLOYMENT: January 2017 YOUR DEGREES: Rutgers University, BA., English; Rutgers University, MLS, Library and Information Studies; Uni versity of Utah, MFA, Art (Ceramics). Q: What are your primary research interests? A: They’re focused on information literacy-helping library users develop the skills to find the information they need for their own research. More broadly I'm interested in technology and digital literacy, helping users to experience technology that they might not have used in the past. I re cently gave a conference presentation titled “Are We There Yet? Using Vir tual Reality and Augmented Reality for Information Literacy Instruction,” which looked at the state of inexpen sive smartphone-based VR/AR apps and their potential for instruction. Q: Describe non-library jobs you’ve worked in the past. A: In college, I worked at Sears on the loading dock and delivered appliances, grills, and garden trac tors. I put together a lot of grills and got pretty good at moving heavy appliances, like getting a refrigera tor down narrow basement stairs by cradling it in a moving blanket. I’ve also been employed at offices, call centers, a UPS sorting facility, and various manufacturing jobs. Q: Describe your previous library experience. A: While getting my MLS at Rutgers. I worked at the university library in the archives and special collections department. After gradu ating, I worked first in the archives of the United Federation of Teach ers in New York City and then spent eight years as the Archivist for AT&T in New Jersey. There were many unique documents at AT&T, such as Watson's notebook in which he recorded Alexander Graham Bell’s first words to him by phone in 1876. There were also many cool tech artifacts like early transis tors, solar cells, and lasers. While I enjoyed the historical technology in that job, I felt isolated, without a lot of opportunities to share the resources. Moving to North Caro lina, I got a chance to reenter the larger library world, first in a public library in Raleigh, and then for six years as a librarian at ITT Technical Institute, where I focused on library instruction and promotion of infor mation literacy. I also got to teach college intro courses as an adjunct. Q: What’s a typical day like for you at the NCWC library? A: On a typical day, I might start with a shift on the reference/circulation desk, answering in-person questions about library resources, citations, for matting papers. On the desk I’d also be answering online chat, email or Randolph-Schoneck Photo phone questions, and, helping with media lab equipment, laptops, room reservations, equipment or main tenance issues, as needed. Then, typically there will be a longer-term library project, maybe something related to process improvement or an upcoming event. If there's a library instruction class that day, I prep for that, then visit the classroom or attend by Zoom. It’s always a high point. I enjoy letting students know about the amazing resources in our library. Throughout a typical day there's one or more meetings maybe with a student for research. Some days I have a school committee meeting, or professional association meeting/webinar. Q: What's a misconception about the nature of librarians? A: One of the newer misconceptions is that everything is online, so why do we need print books, physical libraries, or librarians? While an incredible amount of information is available online, much has not been digitized, and be yond that, many users still prefer print books. At the same time, libraries are more than dispensers of information; they're also places to gather for study, or hold social, group and community events. Library staff help connect users to both information and their commu nity, even if it's in a virtual sense. Q: What are the traits of successful librarian? A:You don’t have to be a big reader to be successful in this field. For me the most important traits are curiosity, persistence, and a real enjoyment in helping people. Much of my job is detective work; I'm trying to locate the best sources of infor mation, and sometimes I might try many different resources or strategies. Q: What do you like most about working at NC Wesleyan? A: We’re a small enough college that it’s easy to get to know a lot of students. I really like helping them find sources. It’s wonderful to hear that a student earned a good grade on a paper or other assignment that took a lot of time and effort on their part. The library is part of the Bishop family, and we’re all work ing toward helping our students. Q.: What's one suggestion you have for better utilization of your services by not just students but faculty and staff? A.: This may sound simple, but just come talk to us. You might not think a particular book or article or other source is available to us, but often it is; it’s either here or we can access it through a different library. And we're more than just books, more than just databases-we offer video equip ment, laptops, and 3D printing. Q: If the library were to receive a $1 million grant, how would spend the money? A: We could create more study rooms (for individuals or small groups), either by constructing an addition or convert ing existing sections of the library building. I would put that at the top of the list, based on need. A grant would also allow us to purchase technology- -a virtual reality lab, automated laptop checkout kiosks, a data visualization room, more media lab and makerspace equipment, and access to more data bases and resources. Q: What do you like to do outside of woik? A: I spend a lot of time with my fami- ly-my wife Jackie; our son, Noah; my mother-in-law, Suzanne; and our two dogs, Riley and Maya, both rescues. We just moved from Raleigh to Rocky Mount over the summer. So this fall we’ve all been getting to know the city, which has been fun. For hobbies I like hiking, reading, listening to music, and doing DIY projects. LIST OF FAVORITES: TELEVISION SHOWS: Recent ones: “Loki,” “The Mandalorian,” “What We Do in The Shadows.” Classics: “Parks and Recreation,” “Great British Baking Show.” MOVIES: Recent: “Hunt for The Wil- derpeople,” “Lily Topples the World,” “Come and See.” All-time Favorites: “Dark Knight,” “Seven Samurai.” MUSICAL ARTISTS: Recent enthu siasms: Gillian Welch, Lee Scratch Perry, Bob Dylan, Archie Shepp. All-time Favorite: Luna (an alt-rock/ dream pop band from the 90’s). FOODS: Barbeque (always good, any style). I also like Indian, Thai, Mediterranean, Italian cuisines. PLACE: Glacier National Park in Montana-my wife and I have taken several trips there. It’s breathtaking. TEAMS: Boston Red Sox (Go Sox!). BOOKS: Recent ones: “Do Not Sell at Any Price: The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World's Rarest 78 Rpm Records” by Amanda Petrusich and “Jun Kaneko: The Space Between” by Glenn R. Brown, about an artist who makes large, colorful clay sculp tures. Favorite authors: Paul Auster, Jane Austen, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Toni Morrison, I. B. Singer. Q: Do you prefer books or Kindle- type devices? A: I was reading more on a screen, but switched back to reading more print in the evenings; it’s much more relaxing. Terrence Martin HOMETOWN: Greensboro. JOB TITLE: Embedded and Online Services Librarian. DATE OF EMPLOYMENT: August 2017. YOUR DEGREES: North Carolina A&T State University, bachelor’s in Social Work, with minor in Sociolo gy; North Carolina Central Universi ty, Master of Library Science (MLS). Q: What are your primary research interests? A: My research interests include build ing asynchronous/synchronous instruc tional courses and tutorials as a way to link information literacy to learning outcomes in library instruction. Q: Describe your previous library- related experience? A: I’ve held many jobs over the years, some at libraries, some at other organizations. I've worked at Winston-Salem State University as an information literacy coordinator/ eLearning developer; and Bennett College as an evening reference librar ian. Among other positions I was a web content editor/training coordina tor at SciMetrika; and an instructional designer at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Q: Describe your typical day at the NCWC library. A: I provide research assistance to students and faculty to aid in answer ing two important questions: • How do I find resources in our library collection (i.e. book, article or reference material)? and • Can you help my class with their research assignment? These two questions are at the core of what librarians do. These tasks are administered throughout the semester with the assistance of students and faculty engaged in the research process. Q: What’s one misconception about the nature of librarians? A: A huge misconception is that ALL librarians love to read lengthy novels. That’s not true for me! I enjoy organizing information, disseminating that informa tion, and finding new ways to engage my users in retaining that content by building appealing interactive activities. Librarian work is perfect for me in that regard. Q: What are the traits that make for a successful librarian? A: You need to be an analytical thinker. You have to search for information and evidence. Analytical thinkers will find and evaluate every bit of information they can find on a particular subject. Besides an intense curiosity, it helps to be creative. Creative thinkers are fasci nated with the world around them. Q:What do you like most about working at NC Wesleyan? A: I enjoy working with my colleagues. In the Pearsall Library we have a team dedicated to ensuing that students and faculty get what they need. Q: What’s one suggestion you have for better utilization of your services by not just students but faculty and staff? A:The number one suggestion would be “If you need help, ask.” Q: If the library were to receive a $1 million grant, how would you spend the money? A: With a $1 million grant, I would like to see better automated equipment added to already-established services. I would: • Install a checkout lock box so students and faculty can access laptops and related equipment on their own. • Increase employee salaries by 15 percent. • Update all furniture in the library. • Hire two more faculty members as part of the library staff. • Build onto the mezzanine in the back of the library. Q: What do you like to do outside of work? A: I'm terrible golfer, but I do enjoy playing. I'm restoring a 1998 BMW 740i. I like playing video games such as COD, Tom Clancy: Division 2, Mor tal Kombat X, Pac Man, and Dig Dug. Terrence Martin LIST OF FAVORITES: TELEVISION SHOWS: “The Simp sons,” “The Cosby Show,” “Mar vel’s: What if...?” MOVIES: "Let’s Do it Again” and “Uptown Saturday Night.” MUSICAL ARTISTS: A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra. CUISINE: Jamaican. PLACE: Florida. TEAMS: The North Carolina A&T football, track and basketball teams. Rachel Roy HOMETOWN: Winston-Salem. JOB TITLE: Director of the Library/ Collection Development Librarian. DATE OF EMPLOYMENT: November 2012. YOUR DEGREES: Milligan Univer sity, B .S. in Business Administration; North Carolina Central University, Master of Library Science (MLS). Q: Describe your previous non library jobs. A: Before becoming a librarian, 1 worked in two medical offices as a records tech and a medical secretary. Q: Describe previous library experience. A: I was an in Instructional Services Librarian at Wayne Community Col lege from 2007-2012. Q: What's a typical day like for you at the NCWC library? A: In my office I work on longer- term projects, put together book or ders, send and answer emails, cover the library chat system. I also attend online committee meetings and webinars. On Tuesday nights, and at other times during the week. I’m at the reference desk helping students, faculty and other library users. Q: What’s one misconception about the nature of librarians? A: One is that we read books all the time. I wish that were true, but I usually don’t have a lot of time to read at work. Q.: What do you like most about working at NC Wesleyan? A: I would say it’s the diverse group of students at the college. I like working with the library staff to find ways to better serve the students, faculty, and staff. As director, I find it rewarding to lead the college into the future. Q: What’s one suggetion you have for better utilization of your services by not just students but faculty and staff? A: I really wish that more people would realize that we possess many resources besides academic books. We offer a large collection of juve nile fiction and nonfiction, DVDs, and popular fiction that faculty, staff, and students can borrow. Q: If the library were to receive a $1 million grant, how would spend the money? A: With that much money, we could remodel the older section of the library and make more study rooms. We could also get newer furniture for the whole library, expand the Internet Cafe, and enlarge the computer lab. As far as electronic resources go, we could get a few more that we haven’t been able to afford. Q: What do you like to do outside of work? A: I spend time with my husband, Rich; I like to read; watch TV; and hang out with our family. LIST OF FAVORITES: TELEVISION SHOWS: Current: “Blue Bloods,” British mysteries. All-Time Favorites: “Gilmore Girls,” “Murder, She Wrote,” and “Full House.” MOVIES: “Gone with the Wind,” "Captain America: Winter Soldier,” “The Music Man,” “Newsies,” and “The Wedding Singer.” MUSICAL ARTISTS: I like Motown, 80s and 90s pop and rock, and Chris tian worship music. CUISINE: Italian. PLACE: Kiawah Island and Charles ton, South Carolina. TEAM: Duke Blue Devils. LITERARY GENRE: I love to read mysteries and thrillers. Q: Do you prefer to read books or Kindle-type devices? A: I love print books—I’m used to them and my eyes get tired when I read from my phone or computer. Rachel Roy Randolph-Schoneck Photo
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