Interim Library Dean Announcement

I am excited to announce that Anthony Prince has been appointed as the Interim Library Dean at Chattanooga State effective February 3, 2025.

Anthony brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to library services, having most recently served as the Cataloging and Metadata Librarian at Chattanooga State Community College’s Kolwyck Library. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated leadership in both academic and technical services, with a strong focus on developing and executing departmental goals, providing research assistance, and leading teams to success.

Below is a brief overview of Anthony's qualifications:

Education:
Master of Public Administration, Tennessee State University
Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Tennessee State University
Master of Library Science, University of Kentucky
B.A. in Philosophy, Transylvania University

Professional Experience:
Cataloging and Metadata Librarian, Chattanooga State Community College (06/2018 – present)
Cataloging Technical Services Manager, Tennessee State University (09/2010 – 05/2018)
Library Information Specialist II, University of Missouri-Kansas City (02/2009 – 09/2010)2nd Shift Circulation Supervisor, University of Kentucky (10/2008 – 02/2009)

Anthony has proven expertise in cataloging, metadata, and information services, as well as extensive experience leading library teams, managing projects, and providing guidance to both staff and students.

Please join me in welcoming Anthony to this new leadership role. I look forward to the positive impact he will have on our library and the larger college community.

Best,
Beth Norton
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Chattanooga State Community College

Anthony Prince - The Stars at KLIC: Journey Story of our Staff

By Anthony Prince

As a child, I don’t remember ever having an answer to the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” For as far back as I can remember, all I ever wanted to do was go to college.  For the most part, I enjoyed learning (if not the social aspects of school) and I wanted to be the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college.

And so I went to college, had some fun, took two study abroad courses, graduated, and loved it.  I love learning.  I still love being a student in a classroom.  But the problem with that being my big life goal is that it was accomplished by 22.  So that kid that didn’t know what he wanted to be when he grew up was a 22 year old that didn’t know what he wanted to be now that he was grown up (if indeed, anyone is a grown-up at 22).  I had a degree and didn’t know what to do with myself.  And while I will always champion the intrinsic value of education, being a philosophy major doesn’t exactly translate into a specific career.  Nor is it meant to, but I digress.

After a couple of years of working at a college bookstore, a grocery store, and being intermittently unemployed (which drastically affects mental health and well-being), I got serious about what I wanted and needed in life.  While in college, I had considered continuing to grad school so that I could work in higher education, but I wasn’t sure what would be right for me.  While I loved being in class, I didn’t love being in front of class.  I know from my own experience that education is the single best way to improve your life.  No matter where you come from, education can get you to some place better.  I believe in the ideals and the promises of education.  So I felt it was the place where I belonged; I just wasn’t sure how I could contribute.

Looking back, I basically performed a career self-assessment.  How could I take my love of learning and translate that into a career that would be a good fit for me?  I looked at various jobs in higher education and the education, skills, and experience they required.  I pretty quickly focused on librarianship.  It required an ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (or equivalent, which only takes 2 years of full-time coursework), and the University of Kentucky has such a program!  GO CATS!  At the time, I was living in Ohio and already planning to move back to my home state of Kentucky, so things were falling into place.

Being a librarian is a perfect fit for me because I love information; I love consuming information.  I think that goes back to why I loved being a student and why I majored in philosophy.  I love solving the big-little technical problems that spring up in my area of the library.  Sometimes it’s mentally exhausting, but it’s always challenging, satisfying, and rewarding.  It’s hard to imagine working outside of academia, and Chattanooga State Community College has some of the most devoted, student-centered faculty and staff I’ve ever worked with and the library’s student assistants are the best trained, hardest working, and most helpful students I’ve seen at any library.

Deciding to become a librarian completely changed the trajectory of my life.  I’ve moved around a bit to get to where I am (Kentucky, Missouri, and a couple of times in Tennessee), and while moving is stressful, new places and new people are always exciting.  If I have any advice to give, it’s this: be ready to move for a job; jobs won’t come to you.

Not So Frequently Asked Questions with Anthony Prince

Anthony Prince
Cataloging & Metadata Librarian

Anthony Prince is our new Cataloging & Metadata Librarian, and we're thrilled to have him join our team! If you use our catalog system, Anthony is putting in the information to find resources.  Besides being in charge of all the processing magic that happens in the back of the library, he's also our new Engineering Liaison. Contact Anthony at anthony.prince@chattanoogastate.edu for research help or questions about metadata. Learn a little bit more about our newest librarian in his Not So Frequently Asked Questions interview.

1. What is the last picture you took with your phone?
A box of donuts from Julie Darling Donuts, to taunt a friend back in Nashville.

2. What advice do you have for students? 
Learning doesn’t end when you graduate and have a job.  Education will always be the single best way to improve your place in life.  Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions.  I personally find it intimidating to ask questions in certain situations, but just find a way that works best for you.

3. What do you like to do in your free time? 
Without sounding too nerdy, I love consuming information.  I probably spend a few hours a day reading and listening to the news.  It’s so easy to be well-informed; there’s no good excuse not to be.  If you want a more fun answer, I’m a lifelong gamer, so I’m either playing video games or watching my favorite broadcasters on twitch.

4. Spring, Summer, Winter, or Fall?
Winter, Fall, Spring, in that order.

5. Dogs or cats?
Neither, but small dogs if I had to choose.

6. Favorite cartoon?
Favorite animation would include shows like Batman: The Animated Series, Avatar: The Last Air Bender, King of the Hill, and Archer.

7. What is the last movie you went to see?
Deadpool 2. 

8. What sort of movies do you like?
As a genre, I love sci-fi, but anything by Christopher Nolan or Quentin Tarantino will have me in the theater on opening weekend.

9. Star Trek or Star Wars?
I’ll take Jean-Luc Picard over those whiny, galaxy-wrecking, Skywalker brats any day.  But, truthfully, they’re both enjoyable.

10. Early bird or night owl?
Probably early bird.