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Durick Library, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, VT
Harriet Farnsworth Powell Historical Museum, Essex, VT
Gordon State College, Barnesville, GA
Durick Library, Saint Michael’s College 2017-2019
Initially I was working as the executive assistant to the director of library information services, John Payne at Durick Library beginning in the summer of 2012. As the years went by, many long- time employees were retiring and due to a college-wide budget crisis, were not being replaced. With no opportunity available to hire new staff, I offered to learn and cover where I could to help narrow some of the gaps. It worked tremendously well for both the library and myself. John gave me the tools and the freedom to work where I was needed and to learn as much as I could. As I was learning in the classroom, I applied those lessons to the workplace. I made it my goal to learn from the ground up by working on several projects and day-to-day operations within the library. Because of my inside perspective as the assistant to the director, I was able to make powerful connections in terms of the management of the library and why he made the decisions he did as the library journeyed further into uncertainty as the college faced financial problems. Working for and with him and working in several different roles for the last two years of my employment provided me with skills and experience that I will refer to in my future career.
Durick Library Circulation Desk
Accomplishments:
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Learned the circulation desk and worked weekly shifts directing students and faculty, checking materials, reserves, inter-library loan, shelving, and troubleshooting computer issues.
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Support and management of library budget for the director; this included maintaining spreadsheet data and giving feedback.
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Interviewed and hired approximately thirty undergraduate work study students yearly to work in library.
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Served on committees to assist in updating the five-year strategic plan of Durick Library. My role was specifically with the archives. We put in place goals to build a reading room, update the disaster plan, web page exposure, and acquiring new shelving for the secured archival area.
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Devoted time to an acquisitions project by comparing a gift donation of hundreds of books from an alum to the college’s aspirants and cataloging those findings so decisions could made in what materials would be accepted for the library’s special collection.
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Supported cataloging functions from acquisition by copy cataloging or original cataloging if needed; processed the physical items to be shelf ready and assisted in cataloging a large backlog of gift materials.
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Worked with the college archivist on the Digital Public Library of America project by describing and tagging thousands of photos from the Saint Michael’s Archive to be accessible in the future.
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Helped create student engagement activities. Two of the most popular events that we hosted were the "Dia de los Muertos" Escape Room in the fall of 2017, and “Are you smarter than a librarian?” trivia night. Both events were repeated due to their popularity.
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Served on library exhibit committee to plan exhibits within the library for each semester. I created several of my own for display.
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Attended Society of American Archives national conference through Durick Library in Washington D.C. in August of 2018. I was able to attend two presentations that allowed for a better understanding of the skills I was learning in the classroom.
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At the request of Dr. Susan Ouellette, professor of history at Saint Michael's College, I assisted her with background research for her book, An Extraordinary Ordinary Woman: The Diary of Phebe Orvis 1820-1830. As my mentor and friend, she gave me a chance to work on my research skills, and I was able to make some connections for Orvis's extended family. The book was published in 2017.
Essex Community Historical Society/Harriet Farnsworth Powell Museum 2014-2019
I joined the board of this historical society in March of 2014. I had no idea it would become a tool and an experience that I would use for my future! After I began my MLIS degree, I began to see opportunities to use the skills I was learning. I agreed to become their archivist for their museum. I inherited a very robust and diverse collection and a sadly lacking cataloging system that had not been utilized to its full potential. I also became the chair of their collections committee. These two roles were my focus point. At the same time I became an active part of planning of the seasonal programming that the society offers, and I was often at events to gain more exposure for our little society/museum. I had to leave them in summer of 2019 due to relocation, however, I am an active part of the continuing inventory project performing remote work for them. I plan to attend their meetings whenever I am in Vermont.
Working on inventory and cataloging of museum collection
Accomplishments:
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Assessed PastPerfect software and acquired updates to better serve the museum collection needs.
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Educated the board on the need for improved storage for the collection. This resulted in the acquiring of two fire safe filing cabinets and money for appropriate archive boxes.
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Proposed and implemented an inventory of the entire museum collection. This included arrangement, description, preservation and digitization. This was done to improve quality of descriptions, arrangement, access, and retrieval.
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Volunteered and supported historical society events to gain exposure and to educate public on our role in the town.
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Facilitated a relationship between local historian and Saint Michael's College history professor to consult on physical layout of museum, and to present a talk on a historical diary at the summer Tales and Treasures Programming.
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Collaborated with other businesses, schools, and town library on projects to entertain and teach about our local history.
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Contributed to bi-annual Essex Community Historical Society Newsletter by providing graphic design and layout, as well as creating pamphlets and brochures for advertising purposes.
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Worked with town officials and board to establish funds and fund-raising assistance in order to pay for major repairs to a local historical landmark.
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Created and maintained social media platforms for the museum and society.
 |  2017 Essex Community Historical Society Meeting |
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 Collaboration with St. Albans Historical Society annual Champlain Valley Fair exposition, 2017 |  Board member Thad and I ready to go at the 2016 Annual Xmas Tree Lighting and Sing-A-Long |
 Inside of the museum |  1893 Stone Water Tower located at Fort Ethan Allen |
 Kick-off celebration of the save the water tower campaign, 2017 |  Combat Veterans Association gives Purple Heart of soldier killed in combat in Vietnam with ties to Essex, VT, 2016 |
Hightower Library, Gordon State College, 2019 -
I relocated to Barnesville, GA in July of 2019. I had started networking to see if I could find an archive that I could volunteer for in order to learn and practice my skills. Gordon State College’s archivist responded to my request. I started working in August of this year and continue to work with archivist several hours a week to perform archive processing. Through this experience, I have been charged with working on physical collections. Ms. Pye, the archivist, has proven to be an extraordinary mentor. She has taught me how she arrives at her unique accessioning system due to the continuing change of the college. It opened as a military school in the 1852, and has evolved into a two and four year college for several undergraduate programs. Ms. Pye has also allowed me into the driver's seat to make my own decisions on how we should process some of these unique collections. She lends me her reasoning behind her practices, and I have gained even more experience on a professional level that I can rely on as I process my assigned collections.
First day at Gordon State College as a archival volunteer
Accomplishments:
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Created a finding aid via Excel for the Walter Griffin collection. Griffin, an alum of Gordon and a poet, gifted the school with a vast collection of his works and photography. The collection had been arranged; however, it had not been processed any further. I studied the collection, accessioned and described to the item level. I created the finding aid and wrote the bio for Mr. Griffin.
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Processed the Marvin P. Owen collection. Owen, an alum of Gordon and a WWII veteran, was killed in the Korean war in 1951. I was able to arrange and describe a collection of correspondence, military records, school records, newspaper clippings and more. I created the finding aid for this collection at the item level. The other part of the Owen collection required more extensive work. German WWII weaponry, insignas, medals, jewelry, and other artifacts were in two boxes. I researched each item to be able to identify, appraise, and describe.
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In addition to processing of these collections, I have added more descriptive data and outside references to support my research into the metadata spreadsheets. This is to provide the archivist with additional information until such time that mapping problems and the successful migration of all their data from one platform to another is completed. This work includes links to my research and digital photography of each artifact, as well as appraisal information.
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Working with archivist to troubleshoot errors from migration of archives from one archival platform to a new one. Due to this problem and the lack of time she has to devote to the archives, my work has provided her access to the collections I have been processing as we investigate the mapping issues.
 Martin P. Owen, Jr. 1942 high school senior picture Gordon Military School |  Tag Der Arbeit German tinnie 1935 |
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 WW II German TeNo Officer's Dagger by Eickhorn, |  Marvin P. Owen Collection of German WWII artifacts |
 German Second Class 1813 Iron Cross |  Walter Griffin Collection ready for processing |