Odyssey

A Bi-Annual Publication of the

Hodges University Library

Fall 2011

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Editor’s Note

Welcome to the Fall 2011 issue of Odyssey. This issue features two of our staff representing a work accomplished and a work beginning. In the first article Dr. Susan Smith, our Naples campus librarian, wrote concerning her recent experience in the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute. In the second article, I interviewed Riva Wharton, one of our library staff in Fort Myers, concerning her exciting opportunity to acquire her master’s in library science through Wayne State University. Next, Barb Hawkes, a part-time librarian in Naples, introduced our new Library Research Guide on the subject of diversity. We’ve also added a short section that highlights through photographs some recent activities in the library. Remember to view our Spotlight section, where we feature our part-time librarian, Bryan Mulcahy. Last, “In the News” provides an overview of what has recently happened with us at Hodges University. Thanks very much for reading!

Gerald Franz, PhD

Assistant Library Director

Table of Contents

The Sunshine State Library Leadership

Institute, by Dr. Susan Smith (p. 3)

A New Beginning: An Interview

with Riva Wharton (pp. 4-5)

Our New Library Research Guide on

Diversity, by Barb Hawkes (pp. 5-6)

Recent Activities (pp. 6-7)

Spotlight: Bryan Mulcahy (p. 8)

In the News (p. 9)

Picture on cover: Dr. Susan Smith at the

Sunshine State Library Institute in Tallahassee

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I have devoted myself to being in the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute (SSLLI) for the better part of a year. It started with an application process. Only 40 of us were selected to be in SSLLI year seven. Then I had to find a SSLLI mentor, attend a series of seminars, complete practical application assignments and a project. Along the way I traveled to Ocala, Orlando, and Tallahassee. I also attended my first Florida Library Association Conference. I met librarians from all kinds of libraries all over the state of Florida, many of whom are knitters just like me. I toured the state capitol and the state library and archives. The SSLLI is a nationally recognized leadership program that prepares “library leaders to provide the highest quality library services to the citizens of Florida in the most effective and innovative manner that will meet today's needs and tomorrow's challenges” (Florida Department of State, n.d.). New to the state of Florida, but not new to the library profession, I was looking for a way to grow and develop myself as a leader and learn more about the Florida library world. I didn’t know I would learn so much about myself along the way. Almost every session, every homework assignment turned out to have immediate application. My mentor, in addition to having great knowledge, experience and insight, listened, made suggestions, challenged me, checked up on me, and in the end became someone I am proud to name as a friend. My leadership project was writing a sustainability plan for the library, and I was surprised and pleased when others at Hodges, both in the library and out, were interested in contributing. I now see that I can be a leader in more ways than I ever imagined. I have taken on leadership roles in library organizations beyond the university, and am working with librarians from other universities on a multi-site research study. Thanks to SSLLI, I have gained confidence and skills that will serve me for many years to come.

Reference

Florida Department of State: Division of Library and Information Services. (n.d.). Sunshine

State Library Leadership Institute: Overview. Retrieved from http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us

The Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute

By Susan Smith, PhD

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Gerald: Riva, you’ve been at Hodges longer than me. Tell us about yourself and your experience at Hodges.

Riva: I enrolled for classes in 2005 and was hired as an English tutor with Professor Ponicsan. I tutored until I graduated with an IDS degree in June 2006. At that time a position in the library came open and I applied and got the job. I have watched my-self grow in almost all areas of my life since I came here. My professors and colleagues have challenged me and brought out what I did not know I had. This has been a wonderful experience.

Gerald: You’ve had some exciting news recently. Tell us about this new opportunity in your life.

Riva: I’ve been accepted into the School of Library Science at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. In addition, I have received a fellowship for Project ALFA that entails training and educating librarians in Universal Access for the visual, hearing and physically impaired patrons. It is an online degree so I will still be able to work at Hodges while pursuing my de-gree. I will be stressed just like our students are. Let’s see how far my compassion goes now! Gerald: Do you think the students and faculty at Hodges will directly benefit from this kind of library degree? Riva: It’s odd that in cleaning out the cabinet in the training room, I came across several visual magnifiers and set them aside. One day a student’s eyes were bothering her and she asked if I had anything that would make the print larger. I pulled out this magnifier and she was delighted. Another student saw it and she used it. Our age of students is changing and we are getting older students with some problems. We have more displaced workers and quite a few veterans. Anything we can do to help their university experience be positive is a bonus. Gerald: We always get such positive feedback from the students concerning your work with them. Tell us what a typical day looks like for you in the library.

A New Beginning:

An Interview with Riva Wharton

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Riva: There is no typical day. I must suffer from an Attention Deficit Disorder as I love being interrupted. I can’t sit for long periods, so when students ask for help, it is a relief to jump up and assist them. I help with APA formatting, referencing and in-text citations, show how to use the databases and locate books, help with Powerpoints , ESL, and any other assistance they may need. I am a shoulder to cry on. I give toughen up speeches and encouragement. I also assist the librarians in any tasks they need done, and the normal circulation desk duties. I love my job and knowing the students enjoy coming to the library makes it worthwhile. Gerald: It is certainly great to have you on the library team, and we are excited for your new opportunities in education! Thanks very much.

Like a lot of projects, it began with a suggestion in a meeting. Barb Hawkes, one of the part-time librarians in Naples, asked if it would be good to have a Library Research Guide devoted to diversity. This was in the context of Hodges’ annual Diversity Festival. Barb then took leadership of the project, getting help from Gail Williams (now Chief Diversity Officer for Hodges University). Gail was especially helpful in providing lists of diversity resources and pictures. Barb also solicited help from some of the other librarians, including Susan Smith. Thanks for your work, Barb, and we hope many people will use and enjoy the new Diversity Guide!

Wayne State University

Our New Diversity Library Research Guide

By Barb Hawkes

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Diversity Library Research Guide

Some Photos of Recent Activities!

Many boxes of discarded books sent to Better World Books

Megan Cook (on far right) was our wonderful work study student for several terms.

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Dr. Greg Smith gave a Wimba

presentation to the librarians April Brown’s seminar to Librarians on handling difficult patrons

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CELEB

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Victor Cerna and Yara Morige both

received their United States citizenship! They

both work for the Fort Myers Library.

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Bryan Mulcahy has served as our part-time on-call librarian on

Sundays since March 1999. Bryan has been employed full-time as a Reference Librarian

with the Lee County Library System at Fort Myers since April 1990. His duties include

Adult Services Reference, Genealogy Research and Instruction, Adult Outreach, Branch

Volunteer Coordinator, and ESL Liaison to the local Haitian community. He also writes

monthly genealogy information columns that have appeared in newsletters such as

SWFLN, and genealogical society newsletters in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Hendry,

Manatee, and Hillsborough Counties.

Prior to coming to Fort Myers, Bryan was previously employed as the Adult Services

Reference and Genealogy Librarian with the Southwest Georgia Regional Library System in

Bainbridge, Georgia, and the Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library in Moultrie, Georgia.

Prior to becoming a librarian, he also worked as a Circulation/Reference Assistant with the

Florida State University Law Library in Tallahassee, Florida. Bryan has worked in the library

field since 1982.

Bryan earned his M.L.S. degree in Library and Information Science from Florida State

University. His undergraduate work includes a B.A. degree in Government and Business

Administration from Florida State University as well as one year at the University of

Miami.

His hobbies include football, baseball, gardening/lawn maintenance, and traveling. He

has visited New York City, Salt Lake City, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, Italy, and

England several times over the years.

We greatly appreciate the experience and expertise Bryan brings to the Hodges library on

Sundays.

spotlight

Bryan Mulcahy

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Barb Hawkes has been gracing the Naples Library with art from various artists who have

donated their work to Hodges University. Barb also attended the SWFLN workshop: “Keeping

Up With Technology,” held at FGCU in June.

Carolynn Volz is volunteering as the Acting Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Library

Network, our local library consortium, until state funding allows them to hire a full time person

for that position.

Gayle Haring took a six-week online course on mobile apps in June and July through Simmons

College. The course was taught by the Head of User Experience at MIT Libraries.

Gerald Franz published an article in the Association of Christian Librarians journal called, “The

Ancient Library at Alexandria: Thinking Beyond the Scroll.” He also attended the SWFLN work-

shop on “Keeping Up With Technology” in June.

Jay Dela Cruz attended the Handheld Librarian 4 Online Conference in February. In May, he attended ELUNA (Ex Libris Users of North America) where he successfully completed Primo

Certification. Also in May, he attended the Florida Library Association annual conference.

Riva Wharton was accepted into the graduate library science program at Wayne State

University through a competitive grant program. She begins classes this Fall.

Susan Smith graduated from the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute in July.

Her graduation ceremony was in Tallahassee.

Odyssey is published twice a year by the Hodges University Library.

Editor: Dr. Gerald Franz, Assistant Library Director

Assistant Editor: Jeanine Brady, Library Associate

Issues are posted on the Library website and links are

emailed to all faculty and staff.

9/2011