Debora Ervin - The Stars at KLIC: Journey Story of our Staff

By Debora Ervin

Before working at Chattanooga State, I worked as an office manager for 10 years. The company suddenly lost a major contract and had to lay off a lot of people. Of course that affected me. But an opportunity came for me to return to school and to revamp my skills. Families First was the program that allowed me to return to college to obtain a degree.

I enrolled at Chattanooga State, and as I was completing my second semester, I decided it was time to start applying for jobs. One day after class, as I was walking by the cafeteria, there was a posting for a part-time position in the library. I applied for the position and was hired. I started as a permanent part-time library assistant. I completed my Chattanooga State associate’s degree in Information Systems – End User Support, and after working 5-6 years in the library, I became a full-time library assistant.

I’ve enjoyed my time working in the library! I've had the opportunity to learn and increase my skills.  What I do here is assist with managing the public service area, supervise and train our student assistants, train staff on circulation, and taught library RI100 classes.  I oversee our inter-library loan services and course reserve services. In between time, I help promote the library events and services through live-streaming on Periscope and other social media platforms. The events that I lead annually for the library are Black History Month, Stress Free Zone, and KLIC Chats.

I had the pleasure last year of attending the Access Services Conference held in Atlanta and it was a great opportunity for me to learn more about my area of work. I was able to bring that wealth of knowledge back and implement it immediately.

I've been an entrepreneur for over 20 years, and I've worked here for 19 years. I love what I do here and look forward to many more years.

Debora's Campus Service: 
BEST Team - Chattanooga State (2 years)
Non-Faculty Sick Leave Bank Secretary – Chattanooga State (3 years)
Graphics Committee - Kolwyck Library & Information Commons
Social Media Team - Kolwyck Library & Information Commons
Marketing Committee – Kolwyck Library & Information Commons

Amy Campbell - The Stars at KLIC: Journey Story of our Staff

By Amy Campbell

I’ve had a love for both computers and science—all kinds of science!—for as long as I can remember. In high school in Orlando I especially enjoyed my physics class, taught by a woman who ruled her classroom like a dictator but who also brimmed with protective love for her students. That same year I joined a computer club, a somewhat unusual thing for a girl to do in the early ‘70’s, and wrote my first program, a simple bit of code that could solve a physics formula.

By the time I needed to choose a major in college, I had become intrigued with another science, psychobiology, which involves the way the mind is affected by the physical body. (Computer science was not a possible major in those days at my small Kentucky college.) I loved the research and learned a lot from my classes, but upon graduation I got married and needed a job, so I convinced a company in Louisville to hire me as a programmer. By the time I had worked there for two years (often 70-80 hours a week!), I had become a decent programmer, and I continued working as a programmer for 11 more years after my husband and I and our young daughter moved to Chattanooga, my husband’s home town.

After spending 13 years with computers (scary, I know!), the work had become a bit repetitive. The science nerd in me was demanding attention again, so I took a leap and applied to a PhD program in genetics at UT-Oak Ridge. To my surprise, I was accepted and offered a full research scholarship. I just needed some prerequisite courses to get my knowledge updated, which brought me to Chattanooga State as a student in 1990. I enrolled in courses such as Statistics, Anatomy & Physiology, Organic Chemistry, and Physics. I thrived on the challenge and was so impressed with the caring attitude from the instructors here!

Eventually, though, I made the tough decision to turn down the spot that had been waiting for me at UT-Oak Ridge. I had a husband and now two daughters who needed my time more than I needed that degree. Besides, I had found a place where I could indulge my passion for science! So I stayed at Chattanooga State, first as a “supplemental instructor” in statistics (my first teaching job—I was terrified!), then as a part-time instructor in chemistry labs and pharmacy tech labs, and in Spring 1998 I became a regular instructor in physics labs. I also was asked to develop and teach a chemistry and biology course for the Radiation Protection program. I found that guiding students and watching them become enthusiastic about science was extremely rewarding.

And then when I least expected it, computers called me back! In 2010 I left the Physics department and joined Chattanooga State’s Center for Distributed Education (CDE) as an Online Learning Specialist. I really enjoyed learning new computer software and helping students and faculty with eLearn.

In 2013, I moved to the campus library and became the Coordinator of Educational IT Support, a new position that provides tech support for all Chatt State students. I love this job! I get to be an advocate for students and help them with their technology issues, and I learn something new in computer science every day. The best bonus is that I work with the amazing staff in the Kolwyck Library!

I never imagined when I was a student in 1990 that I would still be at Chattanooga State in 2016, but I found a place where I have been able to grow and learn and even help others achieve their dreams. I can’t imagine anything better.

Amy’s community participation:
Girl Scout Leader (1985-1991)
Board of Directors – Chattanooga Girls Choir (since 1996)
Handbell Choir – St. Thaddaeus’ Episcopal Church (since 2014)

Hilary Jones - The Stars at KLIC: Journey Story of our Staff

By Hilary Jones

My journey to working in the Chattanooga State library started in 2008. When I graduated from high school, I received an academic scholarship that paid for me to go to school as long as I maintained a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and worked 75 hours on campus. I immediately knew I wanted to work in the library. My mom works in the library so I knew that it was a great environment.

I worked as a student assistant for three years until I graduated with my Associates of Science degree, then I started working at Valleybrook Golf and Country Club as their Administrative Assistant. I worked there for two years until the golf course was sold.

After staying home with my daughter for a few months, a full time position opened up in the library. I applied for the job and I got it! I absolutely love my job. Very few people can say they enjoy waking up every morning and coming in to work, but I’m proud to say I’m one of those people.

Get Ready for the 3rd Annual Edible Book Festival!

Join us April 12^th for KLIC’s 3^rd Annual Edible Book Festival from 1:00-3:00 in the Riverside Café. Celebrate by baking, cooking, or creating something edible and inspired by literature!

Prizes will be awarded for three categories: Best Overall, Most Creative, and People’s Choice. Visit library.chattanoogastate.edu/EBF for a little inspiration and to register your entry by April 1^st.

Don’t feel like baking? Join us on April 12^th at 1:00 to cast your vote for best entry and to eat the treats after the winners are announced.

Sandra Williford - The Stars at KLIC: Journey Story of our Staff

By Sandra Williford

My teaching career began in a swimming pool. As a child in south Louisiana, swimming was a large part of my life. By age ten, I was a swimming instructors’ aide at our local recreation department. For twelve summers, I enjoyed teaching children and adults to swim and safely enjoy water.

With an undergraduate degree in upper elementary education, I began a six year career as a math and science middle school teacher. These years in both private and public schools brought great joy, but I decided to add the option of school librarian. Upon entering LSU’s graduate school, though, I discovered special libraries, which were a much better fit for me as my preference was the information-sharing aspect of librarianship. Special librarians work in a particular area of interest, such as hospitals, corporations, private businesses, associations, museums, and the government.

A graduate internship with Ethyl Corporation transitioned into a full-time job upon graduation.  As the business librarian for this international Fortune 500 Company, I was quite busy and welcomed the challenges that came my way. Two of the most memorable research quests were:

• “How many beds are there in the U.S. Navy?”  (Our company produced flame retardants.)

• “We received a phone call from a company who wants to purchase our [xyz] division. The company would not give us their name, but here are two things we know about them… Help us identify this company.”

After four energizing and fun years, the company asked me to open a library in their Richmond, VA headquarters. As fate would have it, my husband simultaneously was offered a position in Chattanooga. Ah, the dilemma of two career families!

Needless to say, here we are, still in Chattanooga after almost 25 years. As an academic librarian at Chattanooga State, my passion for student learning is fully integrated into my career as an information specialist (a.k.a. librarian), supporting faculty and staff and helping students achieve academic, professional, and personal success.

Who would have guessed that teaching the back stroke would have such a lasting effect?

The Sandman: Overture by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman revisits the world of Dream and the Endless 25 years later in his latest graphic novel, The Sandman: Overture. This beautifully illustrated prequel explains the events leading up to Dream's capture in Preludes and Nocturnes.

Betsy Fronk - The Stars at KLIC: Journey Story of our Staff

By Betsy Fronk

After years of seeing a librarian through the stereotype with a quiet, never-changing and isolated environment, I found myself out of a job and hearing, “return to school”; I had come to a crossroad.  My aunt suggested I take a 3-week library class; if I hated it, it was only 3 weeks.  I took this “general reference” class and it was tailor-made for me:  a variety of subjects, full of people and always different.  The quiet and boring library was a galaxy away from real life.  I also realized if I wanted to enter official librarianship, I had to get a degree from an ALA-accredited school.  I entered the University of Michigan’s School of Library & Information Sciences in the early 90s.  Upon graduating, I got part-time jobs in a public library working in youth and young adult services.  Finally I got a full-time job at a small four-year college in Virginia (VA); I had fond memories of the Southeast where I stayed with my grandmother.

I spent two years doing inter-library loan and some reference in Virginia.  I thought living in the big city would improve my life so I spent two years in Atlanta, at a non-profit serving libraries all over the Southeast.  It was eye-opening as I learned much about online cataloging and electronic article collections.  But big city life was not a good fit for me.  I was fortunate to apply for a library job at Chattanooga State where my aunt taught in the nursing program.

I came to Chattanooga State in December 2000 fearing that a community college library might be too slow for me.  Again, my fears were a galaxy away from real life as these past fifteen years attest.  I continue to learn about the TN Electronic Library, website design, collection development plus the recent TN Promise and accreditation.  I have also written reviews for books.  I continue to learn how best to serve our diverse user population.  This spring, I can look forward to a study of the usability of the library’s new catalog in addition to ways to enhance our print collection.

Betsy's Community Service:
Member LITA (Library & Information Technology Association)
Reviewer for Children’s Literature Database and Journal of Web Librarianship

2016 I Love My Library Open House

We had a blast at this year's I Love My Library Open House. Thanks for stopping by and letting us know why you love your library!

 

Visit our Facebook page for more pictures.