Happy Retirement, Susan Jennings!

After 12 ½ years as Dean of Library Services, Susan Jennings, announced her retirement. Her last day at Chattanooga State is January 31, 2025.

Susan in her first blog post on the second day of her start here back in August 2012 stated, “I look forward to getting to know you and continuing the great work of the library.”

Great work indeed.

Under Susan’s leadership, the library went under total renovation with every library space stripped down to the concrete and rebuilt back up. During this time, plans were in place to continue library services on campus.

The Edible Book Festival became an annual event under Susan’s time here. Check out our many blog posts about the Edible Book Festival.

The library was rebranded as a library and information commons and used the acronym KLIC on the library website and other digital spaces.

Susan served as an ALA Councilor at Large and as president of Tennessee Library Association. She was honored with the highest award from TNLA – the TNLA Honor Award in 2017.

Susan encouraged the creation of two staff interview blog series: Not So Frequently Asked Questions and the Stars of KLIC. Both series continue with new library staff.

In her Stars of KLIC blog post, Susan wrote about wanting to become a history teacher but discovering her true calling to be in the library. “I loved working in libraries, teaching students, and learning more… about everything,” she wrote.

In her NSFAQ blog post when asked to name an aspect of your job that most people don't know about, Susan replied about library instruction: “I guess that would be that I teach library instruction classes.  It is the “dessert” of my job.  I love collaborating with faculty members and trying to figure out fun and creative ways to make our library instruction session fun and educational.”

The KLIC mission statement reflects the importance of library instruction: To Teach…To Learn…To Serve…To Explore.

Susan changed the operations of the library department to better serve students, faculty, and staff at Chattanooga State. The library underwent digital changes in the catalog; and changes in organizational structure; and changes in library instruction.

And finally, a message from Susan:

I've loved being a librarian and a Dean tremendously. A simple first staff job in an academic library brought me to my lifelong love... my vocation... my life's calling. I am proud of the things I've accomplished professionally and personally! I’ve been fortunate to work with extremely dedicated and talented colleagues.  If I had one talent it was how to recognize and hire good people! Now, I look forward to exploring a new chapter of my life!

Thank you, Susan Jennings, for your dedication and work at Chattanooga State and at KLIC!  We will miss you!

Susan Jennings, Dean of Library Services

Happy Retirement, Debora Ervin!

 

Debora Ervin will be retiring from Chattanooga State in November 2020.  We will miss her! Because of COVID, a retirement party will be planned for later.

Debora is the circulation manager for the library but also a key member to the library's social media team. If you saw a library Facebook Live video, it was probably Debora who was speaking.  There is a link to one of those videos later in the post. Debora is also a veteran with her service in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

In her Stars at KLIC blog post, Debora wrote:
"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."

Susan Jennings, Dean of Library Services, wrote in a campus email about Debora:

"An alumna of Chattanooga State, Debora Ervin has worked as the Circulation Desk Manager for twenty-four years.  During that time she has supervised and mentored hundreds of student assistants and served thousands of our students. Debora has been actively involved in many organizations and causes on campus, including the Non-Faculty Sick Leave Bank, Support Staff Association, and the annual Soul Food Luncheon.  She was a founding member of the Library’s Social Media Team (a.k.a. SM*T) and our “on air talent” on Facebook Live.  Debora is a true KLIC “superstar.” Outside of Chatt State, Debora served in the U.S. Naval Reserve, retiring after twenty-one years of service.  Debora, we thank you for your service.  An entrepreneur and owner of her own travel agency, Debora will be busy in retirement growing her businesses.  In her “spare time,” Debora will enjoy spending time with her Mom, her daughter, and grandsons.  We will miss you!" 

Watch one of the library's Facebook Live videos starring Debora Ervin!

We will miss you Debora!

 

Happy Retirement, Amy Campbell!

  

Amy Campbell is retiring in November 2020. We will miss her!

Amy has helped students in technology support since the creation of the student technology support position in the library. Her dedication to her work was recognized in 2019 with the Professional Staff Association Excellence Award.  Because of COVID, a retirement party will be held later.

In her 2016 Stars at KLIC blog post, Amy wrote:
"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!

Amy continued, "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."

In a campus email, Susan Jennings, Dean of Library Services, wrote:

"Amy Campbell has worked in various departments (i.e. Engineering Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Academic Resources, etc.) on campus but has made her home in the library for the last seven years.  Amy has coordinated the Student Technology Support for campus that is currently housed in the library.  She created this position from scratch and made it her own.  Amy has been actively involved with the Chattanooga Girls’ Choir (serving on its board and chaperoning trips all around the world with them).  She also enjoys playing handbells at her church.   Retirement will find Amy somewhere between Minnesota and Florida (with maybe a trip between to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby) and enjoying time with her husband, daughters, and grandchildren.  Amy is leaving behind a legacy of superb service and dedication to the success of our students.  We will miss you."

Amy wrote in her email to the library staff announcing her retirement, ""In December 2012, I was lucky enough to become “Coordinator, Educational Information Technology Support Desk (Library)”--whew! It has been by far my favorite job I’ve ever had at Chattanooga State, and I have a lot of past jobs to compare it to!"

We will miss your advocacy, your dedication to help students; we will miss you, Amy!

Pam Temple - Goodbye Questions

With Pam Temple retiring, we wanted to ask her a few questions about Chattanooga State and the library before she left!

1. When did you begin working at Chattanooga State?

Temporary, September 1979; full time, January 1980.

2. What were the biggest changes in your library job over the years?

o   One big change for me was moving from a 9 month to a 12 month position.

o   One big change for the library was moving from a paper card catalog and shelflist to a digital library management system.

o   RDA is starting to become a major change as well.

3. What’s the most noticeable change at Chatt State from your first day in 1980 to now: What change affected the institution the most?

The most noticeable change is the campus landscape. When I came, there were the following buildings: the Omniplex, Student Center, IMC, Humanities, and a big air bubble building for the gym.

The Vocation School and the PBS TV station were here, but not part of the campus. There was no pond, no amphitheater, no Riverwalk, no Productivity Center, no Health Sciences Bldg., no Energy Plant, no Business Division addition, or expanded Library space.  Now we have added new buildings on campus as well as those we purchased such as the CBIH Bldg., the TV station, the old Olan Mills plant, and the off campus sites on Lee Highway and in Kimball.

I think the Vocational School/Chattanooga State merger started a period of growth that has continued through the years with new partnerships with Volkswagen, Wacker, and other businesses in the area. That growth and expansion probably affected the institution the most. 

4. What changes in the Library were the most noticeable or affected the library the most?

I think going to a digital library management system with 24/7 access to information resources has had a major impact on how the Library is used and perceived.  Two major renovations have kept the Library a pleasant place to study, do research, and get technology assistance.

5. How many library directors/deans have you worked with at Chatt State?

I have worked with three library directors/deans: Richard Harris (4 years), Vicky Leather (28 years), and Susan Jennings (5 1/2 years).  They are all dedicated librarians and able administrators and I have learned a lot from them over the last 38 years.  There was not a bad one in the bunch!

6. Are you retiring here – still going to be around for library meals?

Oh yes! I will always be up for a meal with my library buds.  We will be retiring right here, with many side trips to see friends, family, and the good ole USA.

And finally, a message from Pam:

I have been fortunate to work with wonderful, caring people here at Chattanooga State and especially in the Library. I cannot praise these people enough! For sure, I will not miss doing bulk imports and exports, or troubleshooting Alma and Analytics; but, I will most definitely miss the people.  I will miss the work in the sense that I feel it I has value that enhances the lives and studies of our students and faculty; thus making my time and efforts worthwhile.  Who can ask for more than that!

Pam Temple - Retirement Party on January 25th

Pam Temple began work at Chattanooga State in 1980.

After thirty-eight years of hard work and dedication, Pam has decided to retire. Please join us in the library on Thursday, January 25th from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. to wish Pam all the best as she begins this new chapter in her life. 

Something about Pam Temple -- almost every morning, she would greet each person with a cheerful good morning or hello; even though, she is a self-described night owl. Find out more about Pam from her Not So Frequently Asked Questions blog post.

Pam is the library's Coordinator for Technical Services, which puts her in charge of acquisitions, cataloging, and processing new materials. Besides being in charge of all the magic that happens in the back of the library, she's also been known to help at the Public Services desk as well as the campus advisor for copyright questions.

In her contribution to the Stars at KLIC blog series, Pam wrote this about herself:

I want to KNOW things, how something gets made, how something works, why people are the way they are, how to survive a natural disaster, etc., etc. Many times as a reference librarian, I would help a student find some information they needed for a speech, a paper, whatever. They would leave, but I'd still be researching because, now, I wanted to know.

Find out more about Pam's journey to Chattanooga State like where she went to college and her college majors from her Stars at KLIC blog post.

Besides being the coordinator for technical services, Pam served briefly as interim library dean during the summer of 2012.

Thank you, Pam Temple, for your dedication and work at Chattanooga State and in the library!  We will miss you!

Happy Retirement, Sandra!

Sandra Williford, KLIC's Nursing & Allied Health library liaison, worked her last day yesterday, May 16, at Chattanooga State. Sandra began as a library liaison for the business division and then became the liaison for nursing & allied health. She served on many college committees and taught many library instruction classes over the past two decades.

We gave Sandra a great retirement celebration on April 27th. The theme of the celebration was Camp Williford with a camping photo booth.

Enjoy some of the pictures from the retirement celebration Facebook album. Also included below are links to past blog posts.

We will miss you, Sandra!

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

Not So Frequently Asked Questions with Sandra Williford!

Thursday, May 30, 2013 Closing

The Library will be closed for a private reception from 1 pm to 3 pm on Thursday, May 30. The Library staff will host a retirement party during that time to honor librarian extraordinaire Tisa Houck!

Tisa Houck

Many students, staff and faculty have been in  library instruction classes with Tisa, or have checked out a book from Tisa, or have read one of her witty library blog posts. Here are links to some classic blog posts written by Tisa:

We Have Lots of Textbooks on Reserve Just For You! Monday, May 18, 2009

ON DISPLAY: New Books & DVDs! Yippee! Monday, April 19, 2010

Read a banned book. I triple-dog dare you! Wednesday, September 30, 2009

All Together Now, Sing Along With Me! Friday, August 28, 2009

Library Hours Extended for Final Exams--Ready, Set, Study! Monday, November 29, 2010

Tisa at the Check-out Desk

DDH