MEET THE “NEW KIDS” IN THE LIBRARY

Technology Services: Two new library technology positions hired

Deepika Thota is our new Information Systems Administrator and her official start date was April 20, 2004. Previously, Deepika worked as Application Analyst Programmer in the Web Services division of Information Technology Services at University of North Carolina at Charlotte; as a Web Developer for the General Councils Office at University of North Carolina at Charlotte; as an Intern with IT Enterprises; and as a Programming Analyst with NETGSC Software Development Inc. She holds a Masters Degree in Information Technology from UNC Charlotte and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Jawaharla Nehru University.

As Information Systems Administrator Deepika will manage the library’s web and intranet sites, develop custom Cold Fusion/SQL database applications, and program custom applications and scripts. Deepika will also be working with the Coordinator of Technology Services on developing a new “My Library” interface that will allow users to further customize both their library interface and its functionality.

Christina Yau is our new Electronic Resources Systems Librarian and will begin on June 10, 2004. Previously, Christina worked as a Research Assistant in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (UA-T); as an intern with the College of Information Science at UA-T; as a Research Assistant with the College of Education at UA-T, as an Analyst Programmer with Integrated Concepts International, Hong Kong; and as an IT Officer and Programmer Analyst for Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. in Hong Kong. She holds a Masters in Computer Science and a Masters of Library and Information Studies from UA-T, a BA in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, and double majored in Library and Information Services/Computer Science and Statistics at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.

Christina will head up our new Content Linking project, which will leverage technical standards such as OpenURL, DOI and XML to make accessing full text e-resources from citations much easier for library users. In addition, Christina will be administering the Library’s proxy and ILLiad (Inter-Library Loan) servers. She will also be working toward developing library authentication through the RU portal rather than requiring multiple authentication points.

--Steve Helm, Coordinator of Technology Services

Public Services: Archivist/Reference Librarian hired

McConnell Library has recently hired Aaron Spelbring an Archivist/Reference Librarian. Aaron received his library degree with a concentration in archives from the University of Texas at Austin in May 2003. He also holds a B.A. in history from Indiana University in Bloomington.

While he was a student at the University of Texas, Aaron worked with the Americo Paredes papers as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection. This collection is a unit of the General Libraries at the University of Texas focusing on materials from and about Latin America and on materials relating to Spanish-speaking peoples in the United States.

Aaron is currently employed at Indiana State University in Terre Haute. He will begin work in McConnell Library on May 10, 2004.

--Blair Brainard, Acting Head of Reference

Technical Services: Cataloging/Acquisitions Specialist hired

McConnell Library’s Technical Services Dept. is pleased to announce the recent hire of Hong Yu in the full-time classified staff position of Cataloging/Acquisitions Specialist. Hong has worked here in Technical Services for 5 years in part-time wage positions, most recently as a Copy Cataloging Specialist. Before working at Radford University, she had 8 years of library experience, mostly in the technical services area. Hong received her B.A. in Library Science from Shanghai University in China in 1986. Her first day of work was April 12, 2004.

In this position, Hong will focus on copy cataloging of various formats, such as books, Virginia documents, music CD’s, videos, and DVD’s. In addition, she will spend a portion of her time on tasks supporting monographic acquisitions.

--Mary C. Wilson, Coordinator of Technical Services