Reference, Instruction and Distance Education Librarian

Dear Dr. Dolores Fidishun, Dr. Doris Lee, Ms. Julie Meyer and Ms. Mary Murray,

I am applying for the position of Reference, Instruction and Distance Education Librarian at Pennsylvania State University's Great Valley Library. I received my MLS in 2007, with a focus on reference services, and creative outreach to target populations. As an intern at the Oregon State University (OSU) Valley Library, I updated course-specific library resource web pages, offered reference services via Chatango, and completed a complex collection development project. I bring experience and training as a learning facilitator and five years of academic, public and special library experience to my next professional position.

At the Great Valley campus, the Reference, Instruction and Distance Education Librarian provides vital access to information, training, and the technology that supports both virtual classrooms and online research. I look forward to furthering Penn State's goal of utilizing cutting edge web 2.0 technologies to reach out to students, and bridge the gap between social networks and educational support systems.

Over the last ten years, I have worked as a client communication specialist and mashup data manager in busy client-centered real estate offices, and in web-based information centers such as ALA's Core Books online database, LibraryJournal Online- I hosted a blog there from 2007 to 2008- and OSU's Valley Library online Reference Services. As an outgoing and capable instructor, I've taught students and professionals to use traditional and electronic resources and technologies effectively. I'm comfortable providing library instruction in person, and online via social networking systems such as blogs, Delicious link lists, resource indexes, and on Blackboard and similar course management systems.

As a small business consultant, I've assisted clients with web management and social networking technologies including: PageSpinner and XHTML web design, SaaS templates such as Wordpress, LinkedIn and Facebook for Businesses, content organization with tabs, tags, folksonomies, hierarchies and more. I learn new technologies and data-management systems easily. I am a skilled multitasker, a creative problem solver, and I quickly put clients and coworkers at ease.

Having owned my own consulting business, I've assisted many small business owners to manage their office systems, marketing and communication technologies, research projects, educational programming, budgets and time. I look forward to working with the Great Valley Campus's graduate and returning professional students.

Sincerely, Staci B. Elliott, MLS