The Machiavellian Librarian: Winning Allies, Combating Budget Cuts, and influencing Stakeholders

Do librarians ‘rock the boat’? Do they challenge those around them to win influence and advantage? Why is it that librarians are little found on the ‘influence’ grid of personality assessment tests? The Machiavellian Librarian offers real life examples of librarians who use their knowledge and skill to project influence, and turn the tide in their, and their library’s, favor. Authors offer first hand and clear examples to help librarians learn to use their influence effectively, for the betterment of their library and their career. Opening chapters cover visualizing data, as well as networking and strategic alignment. Following chapters discuss influence without authority-making fierce allies, communicating results in accessible language and user-centered planning. Closing chapters address using accreditation and regulation reporting to better position the library, as well as political positioning and outcome assessment.

• Throws the spotlight on librarian’s professional and personality traits, many of which are deleterious to the long-term viability of library funding
• Shows how best to boost the value proposition of libraries, through enhanced influence
• Includes how-to chapters on influencing others in the organization

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Release date: Oct 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781780634364

Book preview

The Machiavellian Librarian

Winning allies, combating budget cuts, and influencing stakeholders

Edited by

Melissa K. Aho

Erika Bennett

Table of Contents

Cover image

Title page

Copyright

Dedication

List of figures and tables

Figures

Tables

About the contributors

Editors

Contributing authors

1. Introduction

References

Part 1: Character and Behavior for Princes

2. One Machiavellian librarian’s path toward leadership

Abstract:

What is a Machiavellian librarian?

That which looks bad may actually be good

Let Switzerland be your role model

For tonight, Niccolò, we take over the world

Be very careful about the F word (friend)

The role of a Machiavellian librarian in times of a hostile takeover

A final definition of a Machiavellian librarian?

Recommendations

References

3. Weasels and honey badgers: networking for librarians

Abstract:

Stereotypes

The warm connection

Creating your networking plan

Executing your networking plan

Dealing with rejection

Evaluate the success of your networking plan

New roles provide new networking opportunities

Recommendations

References

4. Influence without authority: making fierce allies

Abstract:

Rub the right elbows

Needs assessment

Starting the conversation—embrace the stereotypes

Networking—killing them with kindness

Offer your services—how to sell yourself without selling yourself

Communicating benefits

Communicating your value—we’re priceless!

Creating and becoming library champions—we’re number 1!

Recommendations

References

5. Prince or plebe?: success at all levels of the library hierarchy

Abstract:

Introduction

The prince: success as a supervisor

The politician: success as an employee

The civil servant: success as a subordinate

Recommendations

References

6. Princely planning in a political environment

Abstract:

Planning the plan

Advancing the plan

Achieving the plan

Communicating the plan

Recommendations

References

7. Be an ironman at work: work with your strengths

Abstract:

What is StrengthsFinder™?

Building relationships

Influencing others

Recommendations

References

Part 2: New Principalities

8. Mixed monarchies: expanding the library’s sphere of influence to help student-athletes

Abstract:

Understanding your new subjects

Living in your new realm

Tips for colonization

Recommendations

References

9. To mold a new reality: strategies for leading change (and getting away with it)

Abstract:

Leaving my homeland/Playing a lone hand

And a look in the eyes of the hungry/Awakened him to what he could do

A memo to a higher office/Open letter to the powers that be

I feel the sense of possibilities/I feel the wrench of hard realities

Courageous convictions/Will drag the dream into existence

Sadder still to watch it die/Than never to have known it

The fact is, this friction/Will only be worn by persistence

In your head is the answer/Let it guide you along

Courageous convictions/Will drag the dream into existence

A quantum leap forward in time and in space

Hold the flame ’til the dream ignites/A spirit with a vision is a dream with a mission

You be the captain/I’ll draw the chart

Let your heart be the anchor/And the beat of your own song

Recommendations

References

10. Infiltrating the curriculum

Abstract:

The journey begins

Google is great, but…

One-shot comes up short

Making the pitch

Trying to fit in

Spreading the word

Not your everyday information literacy course

Recommendations

References

11. Visualizing library space for constituents: a 3D representation of space changes in the Christopher Center Library at Valparaiso University

Abstract:

Introduction

Visualization: libraries need to get on the wagon!

A case study in visualization

You can do this too!

Recommendations

References

12. A game of loans: promoting interlibrary loans

Abstract:

Out of sight, out of mind?

Starting a mini-revolution

Working together for the common good

The patron is always right (even when the patron is wrong)

Did it work?

Recommendations

References

13. Certifiable: going rogue with non-library certifications

Abstract:

Introduction

My experience

Certification 1: instructional design

Certification 2: learning management

Certification 3: Quality Matters™

Additional opportunities not discussed in this chapter

Recommendations

References

14. Ambition, innovation, and tenacity

Abstract:

Machiavellian ideology in the library: oh my!

Divas no more: humility front and center

No need to panic! You got this! (You really do!)

Change, challenges, and opportunities: repurposing the library/librarian identity

Wake up! Changes are a happening not tomorrow, but today

Machiavellian principalities in our 2.0 world: get ready, get set…

Go!

Relevance + speaking with authority + risk taking = Machiavellian librarian

The road less traveled: how the hell did I became a librarian?

Lessons learned

A small note on gender: why professional women librarians shouldn’t hesitate to step up and lean in

A bright side to Machiavelli’s principles in our libraries

Taking a Machiavellian approach to your career as a librarian

The University of Notre Dame and the Incredible First Year Librarian

Seeking out the campus sage: obtaining wisdom from your institution’s leaders outside the library

To be or not to be: Machiavellian

Sound advice from a non-librarian

What I learned along the way

The non-profit aha moment in leadership

Preparing for the next stages of your librarian career

Final thoughts on lessons learned

References

Part 3: Types of Armies

15. Communicating with the prince to win the war

Abstract:

An example of a successful use of access

Ways to get better access to the Prince

Recommendations

References

16. Absens haeres non erit: being in the right place at the right time

Abstract:

Tools and results

Fortune or virtue

Overthrowing the status quo

Before all else, be armed

Tardiness often robs us opportunity

Shameless self-promotion

One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others

The desires of the moment

Changing conduct with changing times

Never was anything great achieved without danger

Recommendations

References

17. Taming the bureaucratic beast, or: how we learned to stop stressing and take control of accreditation

Abstract:

The perfect storm

Background

Accreditation: everybody does it, but nobody seems to know much about it

Librarians and the campus community

The AVC library experience

Leveraging the accreditation self-study

The accreditation team recommendation and its aftermath

An unexpected windfall

Recommendations

References

18. An army of one: the way in which the strength of school libraries ought to be measured

Abstract:

Concerning the power of alliances

Fortify your library

Concerning the way in which all libraries ought to be measured

How a school library can conduct themselves so as to gain renown

Recommendations

References

19. Breaking the mold: winning allies via self-discovery

Abstract:

Introduction

IV Recommendations and conclusions

References

20. A Machiavellian metaphor for communication: using the Social Style Model to craft organizational messages

Abstract:

Anatomy of a message

The Social Style Model

Drivers

Analyticals

Expressives

Amiables

Crafting the message

Recommendations

References

21. Rather a prince than a magistrate be: a regional librarian’s dilemma

Abstract:

A tale of two campuses

No matter how isolated you are, they are watching

Do not forget the pasta salad

A victory for a would-be prince

Be the fox: avoid the traps

Recommendations

References

Part 4: Political Situation

22. Know yourself and your patron: process mapping and needs assessment

Abstract:

Hobby versus occupation

Process mapping: their experience, our job

Process mapping: enhance our competence

Process mapping: case study in mapping to solve problems and save money

Transition: the art of schmoozing

Needs assessment: the importance of knowing the user

Needs assessment: methods

Needs assessment: application and specificity

Needs assessment: considerations in design (developing your battlefield strategy)

Needs assessment: quantitative evaluation—strength in numbers

Needs assessment: qualitative evaluation—tell me a story

Needs assessment: address your weakness, know your strength, never surrender

Needs assessment: example 1—what we did

Needs assessment: example 2—what we did not do

Recommendations

References

23. The accidental Machiavellian: strategic alignment between the university library and the teaching centre

Abstract:

Introduction

Other library sectors

Library collaboration in the literature

A Position outside of the library

Librarians in nontraditional roles

Library benefits

The relationship deepens

Budget savings

Staff professional development

Collaborative program offerings

Other potential strategic alignments

Recommendations

References

24. Slybrarianship: building alliances through user engagement and outreach

Abstract:

Students as stakeholders

Mentoring the lofty librarian

Strategic thinking: shaking assumptions, disparaging myths

Industry experience: gain perspective to leverage your own capabilities

Prep to rally allies

Access to insider information

Credibility: give ’em a place at the table

Prepare for success and prove it with assessment

Rally faculty alliances

Recommendations

References

25. Leveraging accreditation to quell the two fears

Abstract:

Survey the battleground

Dig the library’s fox hole

Polish your weapons

Size up your opponents

Attend to the troops

Recommendations

References

26. Political positioning

Abstract:

View from the top/going down (when politics attack)

Transitions and transformation (enemies within)

Campus chaos and library instability

What have I gotten myself into? (political positioning on the big stage)

Welcome Dr. Dean—an era of s(chair)ed governance

Recommendations

References

Index

Copyright

Chandos Publishing

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Avenue 4, Station Lane, Witney

Oxford OX28 4BN

UK

Tel: + 44 (0) 1993 848726

E-mail: [e-mail]

www.chandospublishing.com

www.chandospublishingonline.com

Chandos Publishing is an imprint of Woodhead Publishing Limited

Woodhead Publishing Limited

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Tel: + 44 (0) 1223 499140 Fax: + 44 (0) 1223 832819

www.woodheadpublishing.com

First published in 2013

ISBN: 978-1-84334-755-2 (print) and ISBN: 978-1-78063-436-4 (online)

Chandos Information Professional Series

ISSN: 2052-210X (print) and ISSN: 2052-2118 (online)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013950833

© The editors and contributors, 2013

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. This publication may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without the prior consent of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

The publisher makes no representation, express or implies, with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions.

The material contained in this publication constitutes general guidelines only and does not represent to be advice on any particular matter. No reader or purchaser should act on the basis of material contained in this publication without first taking professional advice appropriate to their particular circumstances. All screenshots in this publication are the copyright of the website owner(s), unless indicated otherwise.

The Publishers and Editors wish to emphasise that the views expressed in the text are not necessarily their own. Further, any fictional names whether of institutions or persons are not intended to refer to real institutions or persons, and that any such fictional institutions or persons or named institutions or persons mentioned that happen in fact to exist, at the time of or prior to publication, or which may in the future exist, are not mentioned for any purpose other than for the purpose of scholarly argument, and that no defamatory judgements should be attached to their use herein, or interpreted to exist, such judgements being outside the aims and scope of this book both in letter and in spirit.

Typeset in the UK by Concerto.

Printed in the UK and USA.

Dedication

MKA: To Carole, Terry, Michelle, and Che Aho

EB: To my family, close and extended

List of figures and tables

Figures

11.1 First-floor space with shelving removed; new open configuration waiting for Furniture Showcase exhibit. Copyright Valparaiso University 2012.    119

19.1 View from Bartle Library Mezzanine, August 2005    213

19.2 View from Bartle Library Mezzanine, April 2006    213

19.3 Bartle Library Gate Counts 2003–12    214

20.1 Social Style Model. Adapted from the Social Style Profile in Personal Styles & Effective Performance: Make Your Style Work for You by D.W. Merrill and R.H. Heid Radnor, PA: Chilton Book Co, p. 53. Copyright 1981 by TRACOM Corporation.    227

22.1 My daughter’s breakfast process map with swim lanes. Demonstration of the role of swim lanes and functional mapping.    250

22.2 Old invoice processing. The process map of the manual invoice process prior to review.    251

22.3 New invoice processing. The process map of the electronic invoice process after the review and modification.    252

Tables

4.1 Client goals, library goals, resources and services, and value to your client    42

19.1 Binghamton University Undergraduate Alumni Survey 1999–2007    219

22.1 Matrix of formal versus informal data collection strategies    255

About the contributors

Editors

Melissa K. Aho, MA, MLIS, MS

Melissa is currently the Evening and Circulation Superior at the Bio-Medical Library at the University of Minnesota and an adjunct online instructor for a few different colleges and universities. She holds an unusually large number of degrees which include certificates, diplomas, associates, bachelors, and master’s degrees. Her favorite degrees include her bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and History (St. Cloud State University, MN) and Art History (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities), and her three master’s degrees—a MS in Anthropology (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), a MLIS in Library and Information Science (Dominican University, River Forest, IL), and an MA in Art History (University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN). Melissa has lived and worked in Honduras, researched mosque architecture in Guyana and the United States, taken salsa lessons in Cuba, participated in an archaeological dig in Belize, and has spent various amounts of time in 16 countries so far. She has more than 100 published book reviews, has published articles and book chapters, and has presented papers in three different academic disciplines (art history, library science, and political science) and posters in two different academic disciplines (GIS and cartography and library science) at local, national, and international conferences. Her research interests include libraries and librarians, aviation, female aviators, the Middle East/North Africa/Asia, social media, and globalization. She belongs to a variety of professional societies and associations, including the Ninety-Nines: the International Organization of Women Pilots and The Explorers Club. In her free time she is working on her Ph.D. in International Development from the University of Southern Mississippi and also on her private pilot’s license in a Sundowner airplane.

Erika Bennett, MLIS, MS

Erika is the Instructional Services Supervisor at Capella University Library and the subject specialist for the programs of Education and Psychology. Capella is a for-profit, primarily graduate-level, online university with a competency-driven curriculum. It was awarded the 2010 CHEA Award for Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning Outcomes by The Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Erika coordinates strategy toward the realization of Capella’s sixth university-wide learning outcome, Information Literacy. Her MLIS is from Dominican University and her MS in Educational Psychology is from Capella University. She has contributed to two skill-building websites recognized by the Association of College & Research Library (ACRL) Peer Reviewed Instructional Materials Online (PRIMO) program, including site-of-the-month for February 2011. Her publications often focus on assessment, including a chapter in Library Data: Empowering Practice & Persuasion from Libraries Unlimited and the Journal of Library Administration. Other topics of interest include: multimedia design for online adult learners, assessment, data visualization, and rapid instructional design.

Contributing authors

Kacy L. Allgood, MLS, AHIP

In 2012, Kacy Allgood was awarded the Grace and Harold Sewell Fellowship for embedded medical librarians. She currently provides information services to Indianapolis EMS, the largest 911 ambulance service in Indiana, the Indiana University Department of Emergency Medicine—Division of Out-of-Hospital Care, MESH, a disaster preparedness agency & healthcare coalition, and Indiana Emergency Medical Services for Children. All of these agencies collaborate to provide evidence-based prehospital care for Indianapolis. Kacy got her EMT-B from Decatur Township Fire Department (Indianapolis) in 1998, undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Business in 2003 from Indiana University and her MLS in 2007 from Purdue University, Indianapolis. Prior to her work for emergency medical services, she spent four years as a reference librarian at the Indiana University School of Medicine Library. She also spent several years in market research. When she’s not working, she likes to bike, swim, skate, and get her cats stoned on catnip.

Benjamin Andrus, MPA, MSIS

Benjamin Andrus is Subject Librarian for Sociology, Education, and Student Affairs at Binghamton University’s Bartle Library. Previously, he was a reference librarian at Broome Community College. He received both his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and his master’s degree in Public Administration from Binghamton University, and his master’s degree in Information Science from the University of Albany.

Anne Barnhart, MA, MS

Anne C. Barnhart is the Head of Instructional Services at the University of West Georgia. She has MA degrees in Religious Studies and Latin American & Caribbean Studies from Indiana University, and an MS in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Prior to joining the University of West Georgia, Anne worked as a reference and instruction librarian at Lafayette College and then as Librarian for Latin American & Iberian, Chicano/a, and Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She left Santa Barbara for Carrollton, Georgia in order to gain administrative experience. Quickly she discovered that she likes being the girl in charge. She also teaches as an adjunct for the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at UIUC where she regularly teaches Collection Development and occasionally offers Latin American Studies Librarianship via their LEEP (hybrid) program. Her professional interests include area studies librarianship, faculty development, instructional design, educational policy, assessment, collaborative collections maintenance, and administration. She seeks conferences and professional development opportunities where librarians can intersect with other education and policy experts so that she can stay in front of trends in higher education and use this knowledge to improve programs and outcomes at her institution. When she’s not attending meetings and planning empire expansion, she attempts to relax and enjoys biking, cooking, traveling, crafting elaborate cocktails, playing bass guitar, and making pottery.

Ken Bolton, MLS

Ken is a librarian in the Nestle Library at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. His responsibilities include instruction, reference, outreach, and collection development. He also teaches a two-credit course in the School of Hotel Administration that focuses on many areas of information retrieval and management. Ken received his Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Writing Studies from California State University at San Marcos and his Master of Library Science from Syracuse University.

Cara Bradley, MA, MLIS

Cara Bradley is the Teaching & Learning Librarian at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in English literature from the University of Regina, and her Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta. She worked in special and public libraries prior to joining the University of Regina in 2005. Her first position at the University was Distance Education & Outreach Librarian and from 2010 to 2012 she was seconded as the Associate Director of the Teaching Development Centre at the University of Regina. Her professional interests include plagiarism prevention education, information literacy, and evidence-based librarianship. She has published numerous articles, presented widely, and wrote the book Plagiarism Education and Prevention: A Subject-Driven Case-Based Approach, which was published by Chandos in 2011.

Donna M. Braquet, MLIS

Donna Braquet is the Biology Librarian at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She has held this position since 2004 and earned tenure in 2010. She was a founding member of UT’s Chancellor’s Commission for LGBT People and has served as Director of OUTreach: LGBT & Ally Resource Center since 2010. Her research areas include library services during disasters, library services to underrepresented patrons, and librarians as campus leaders. Braquet holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of New Orleans and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from Louisiana State University.

Jorge Brown, MLS

Jorge Brown is an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi where he serves as Access Services Librarian. He is the recipient of the Mississippi Library Association Past President Award which recognizes outstanding performance by a beginning professional librarian in Mississippi. He is the former chair of the Mississippi Library Association Library Instruction Round Table and current chair of Mississippi Library Association New Member Round Table. Most recently, he was a member of the ACRL Instruction Section’s Peer Reviewed Instruction Materials Online Committee. He is a contributor to the Mississippi Libraries’ Book Review Column. His research interests include staff development, user experience, and technology in libraries. His presentations at state, regional, national, and international conferences have included topics on Digital Game Based Learning and Responsive Web Design. Mr. Brown received his Bachelor of Arts in English from Concordia University in Austin, Texas. He holds a Master of Library Science from Emporia State University and is nearing the completion of a Master of Arts in English also from Emporia State. Originally from the Midwest, he now resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he is active in the sport of fencing and cooking local Gulf Coast cuisine.

Carolyn S. Burrell, MLS

Carolyn is a Professor and Reference/Electronic Resources Librarian at Antelope Valley College (AVC). She was born in Long Beach, CA, and has resided in the Antelope Valley for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in German from California State University, Long Beach and a master’s degree in Library Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Before coming to Antelope Valley College, she worked in public and special libraries in California. Her primary duties at AVC are managing and promoting the library’s electronic databases, and maintaining the library’s web presence and reference services. Professor Burrell has published articles related to academic libraries and the history and development of terrestrial globes.

Bradford Lee Eden, MA, MS, PhD

Bradford Lee Eden is Dean of Library Services at Valparaiso University. Previous positions include Associate University Librarian for Technical Services and Scholarly Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Head, Web and Digitization Services, and Head, Bibliographic and Metadata Services for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries. He is editor of OCLC Systems & Services: Digital Library Perspectives International and The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances, and is on the editorial boards of Library Hi Tech and The Journal of Film Music. He has recently been named associate editor/editor-designate of Library Leadership & Management, the journal of the Library Leadership & Management Association (LLAMA) within ALA. He has a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in musicology, as well as an MS in library science. He publishes in the areas of metadata, librarianship, medieval music and liturgy, and J.R.R. Tolkien. His two books Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services: Paths for the Future and Case Studies (Libraries Unlimited, 2004) and More Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services (Libraries Unlimited, 2009) are used and cited extensively in the field. His recent books include Middle-earth Minstrel: Essays on Music in Tolkien (McFarland, 2010), and The Associate University Librarian Handbook: A Resource Guide (Scarecrow Press, 2012).

Tia Esposito, MLS

Tia Esposito is the Library Director at Boston College High School in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned her Master’s in Information and Library Science at Simmons College and received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Bentley University. Her passion is for finding new and exciting ways to get people the information they are looking for in this ever-changing digital learning environment. She believes that every library should be the beating heart and center of its community. She sees every day as a new journey in search of opportunities to investigate, explore, learn, and grow, and shares this enthusiasm for libraries with all of her students, colleagues and stakeholders in her library. She believes that David Lankes, Dean’s Scholar of New Librarianship and Director of the Information Institute of Syracuse, captures her educational philosophy on libraries best: Bad libraries build collections; good libraries build services… great libraries build communities. Tia Esposito’s library media program was awarded the American Library Association’s Cutting Edge Technology in Library Services award for 2013 for an exemplary high school library media program. Her library program was also cited in 2013 by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project for its innovativeness. In the past she was selected to participate in YSLead Massachusetts, a youth services leadership institute for librarians sponsored by the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems. Tia’s professional interests include information literacy, digital learning applications, social media tools in library programs, participatory librarianship, and connecting libraries.

Todd Fenton, MSLIS

Todd spent his formative years in barbecue smoke houses and truck stops on the west Texas border. Having survived a youth spent visiting American military installations around the world; he managed to graduate from the University of Vermont’s philosophy program. After bumming around Vegas for a year, he attended and completed the Master’s in Library and Information Sciences from Simmons College. Todd’s professional career has included time as a corporate librarian in the financial services, consulting, and energy sectors. Additionally, he has conducted competitive intelligence consulting, developed pricing strategies, and developed and implemented market research on behalf of firms in numerous industries (client side (working for them) and vendor side (charging by the hour)). Todd currently manages the University of Minnesota’s InfoNOW service, a research and document delivery program for businesses and consumers. In his spare time, he likes to cook, eat, run, jump, sleep, and read.

Maggie Farrell, MLS, MPA

Maggie Farrell is the Dean of Libraries at the University of Wyoming overseeing library services and operations including budgeting, 112 FTE personnel, private support, and coordination of library services with Wyoming Library Database (WyLD) and Colorado academic libraries. Maggie serves on various committees of the American Library Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries with the goal to improve library services particularly for university students and faculty. At the University of Wyoming, Maggie serves on the Deans’ Council and is a hearing officer for student discipline. Maggie is also the Chair of the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics appointed by Governor Freudenthal and reappointed in 2011 by Governor Mead. Prior to Maggie’s appointment in 2002 to the University of Wyoming, she worked for academic libraries at Montana State University, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, and Arizona State University. Maggie served as a consultant to the U.S. Government Printing Office, overseeing technology projects to improve Internet access to federal government publications. Maggie also served in the U.S. Army as a Russian Linguist in Military Intelligence and she has applied her language skills in working with UW’s sister university in Saratov, Russia. Maggie has a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from the University of Missouri Kansas City, a Master’s in Library Science from the University of Arizona, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Arizona State University.

Laura Francabandera, MLIS

Along with being a wife and a mother of two rambunctious boys, Laura has an MLIS from San Jose State University and is the E-Learning Technology Coordinator for Credo Reference. Using active learning instructional design theory and proven workflows, she creates high-impact, online information literacy videos and activities for both mobile and desktop platforms.

Kim Glover, MLS, MS

Kim Glover, at the time of this writing, is the Instructional Design Librarian at the University of Kansas. In addition to her MLS degree she has a Master’s of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, both earned from Emporia State University. She has been teaching online and in a hybrid format since 2005. Her job requires a deep knowledge of instructional design, learning theories, and being current on the latest instructional technologies available. Her work includes liaison work with the University’s Center for Online and Distance Learning, administering LibGuides at the KU Libraries, and overseeing the creation and integration of the Libraries’ digital learning objects. Her research interests include instructional designs and learning theories: universal design, backwards design, the flipped classroom, team-based learning, and constructivism.

Cynthia Graham, MLIS, MA

Cynthia is a Librarian and Assistant Professor at St. Catherine University in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. She has been a branch library manager and medical librarian for 16 years, working with diverse learners from associate to doctoral levels in many health sciences programs. Her most recent university service is as a leader of faculty curriculum and assessment committees, where she champions the importance of libraries for teaching and learning. She has participated in far too many accreditations to count. She earned her Master’s of Library and Information Science from the University of Iowa and her Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies from St. Catherine University.

Megan Hodge, MSLS

Megan Hodge is an assistant branch manager for Chesterfield County (VA) Public Library, the Vice-President/President-Elect for the ALA New Members Round Table, and the co-founder of the Virginia Library Association’s New Members Round Table. She earned her MSLS from the University of North Texas in 2010 and was an ALA Emerging Leader in 2011. In 2012 she was awarded a Virginia Library Presidential Citation and named Chesterfield County Public Library Employee of the Year. She tweets as @mlhodge and blogs at bluestockinglibrarian.wordpress.com.

Jesse Leraas, MLIS, EdD

Jesse Leraas is a librarian at Argosy University, Twin Cities, where he has had the opportunity to work in a wide range of library areas. He received a BA in English and History from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, an MLIS from Dominican University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from Argosy University. Since 2009, he has been teaching information literacy and first-year student acclimation courses online. He has been a participant and a co-chair of the Minnesota Library Association Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE) as well as holding various offices within MLA. He