Submitted by Mary K. Taylor
Morris Library, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Amber Burtis is the health sciences librarian at Morris Library, Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Her responsibilities include reference, instruction, and being the liaison to the health sciences departments. Amber's professional interests include: "instruction and information literacy, Web 2.0 technologies, consumer health information outreach, ethnic and racial health disparities, and information literacy outreach to public health professionals." She is a 2007 graduate of Kent State University library school and has an undergraduate degree in anthropology from Ohio University. The Toledo, OH, native enjoys traveling and music.
Paul Deane is manager of the medical library at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove, IL. His responsibilities include literature searches, ILL, cataloging, and training. His professional interests include metadata and cataloging. He graduated from library school at the University of South Carolina in 1978. Paul has an undergraduate degree in philosophy with a minor in religion from Furman University. Paul is originally from Arlington Heights, IL, and is a former public librarian. He enjoys collecting books.
Alecia Dietz, library technician, oversees the daily operations of the Health Resource Center of the Alpena Regional Medical Center in her hometown of Alpena, MI. Her professional interests include consumer health. Alecia will receive her MSLIS from Drexel University in 2011. She has an undergraduate degree in education from Western Michigan University. She enjoys running and hiking.
Holly Gabriel is an information specialist at the Rural Assistance Center (RAC) at the University of North Dakota's Center for Rural Health. The RAC (http://www.raconline.org) is a national clearinghouse of information and virtual library on rural health and human services. Holly provides reference services, exhibits, and conducts presentations to publicize the RAC. She has developed topic pages on rural health and human service issues such as grant writing, workforce development, critical access hospitals and telehealth. Her professional interests include health information technology and telehealth. She received her MLS in 2004 from Emporia State University and received her Master of Public Health degree from Northern Illinois University in 2000. Holly's hometown is Portland, OR. She enjoys "racquetball, running, traveling, visiting the national parks across the United States, chasing my cats, home improvement projects, politics, and watching the 'Daily Show with Jon Stewart.'"
Jean Gudenas is Research Services Librarian and webmaster at the Health Sciences Library of Loyola University in Chicago, IL. Her responsibilities include "teaching medical students how to research, standard reference duties, and maintaining and redesigning the health sciences library website." Her professional interests include information mastery. She received her MLIS in 2007 from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has an undergraduate degree in philosophy and literature from Augustana College. Jean's hometown is Woodridge, IL. Her hobbies include: "1. Reading. I will read most anything, ranging from graphic novels to philosophy to fiction. 2. Watching movies. My husband bartends at a movie theater where you can eat and drink while watching new movies, so we get free admission and a discount on beer. 3. Playing my Wii. I am addicted to the Nintendo Wii, especially the Wii Fit board. I've been doing yoga for several years, and I am more active now than I have ever been. It's addicting. 4. Knitting — a bad habit I picked up in college. 5. Scaring medical students with my stupid human tricks and contortionist tendencies."
Samanthi Hewakapuge is Consumer Health Coordinator for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine – Greater Midwest Region (GMR). In addition to being the state contact librarian for North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, her responsibilities include coordinating the consumer health program within the GMR, developing instructional materials, teaching librarians how to provide consumer health information services, exhibiting at state library meetings, coordinating the Go Local activities in the region, and giving GMR updates during state library and library consortia meetings. Her professional interests include consumer health, community outreach, health literacy, health communication, information dissemination, and working with diverse communities. Samanthi graduated in 2003 from the University of Arizona's library school. She has an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka and a master's degree in communication and development studies from Ohio University. Samanthi was an intern for the Native American Access to Technology Program in Arizona, sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and also interned at the Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center in Lake Andes, South Dakota. She also has worked as an outreach information specialist for the College of Pharmacy at University of Arizona and as a health sciences librarian for Alden Library at Ohio University. Samanthi's interests include "experimenting with cooking, enjoying my frequent travels, and dance when the opportunity arises." She is originally from Colombo, Sri Lanka, and now lives in Chicago, IL. "I enjoy sharing my culture through dance and food," she says.
Jeffrey Huber directs and is professor at the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Kentucky in his hometown of Lexington, KY. His responsibilities include administration, teaching, scholarship, and service. Jeffrey's professional interests include medical informatics, consumer health, health information literacy, and health information outreach.
Pam Kress-Dunn is Library Coordinator at the Pfohl Health Sciences Library of the Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque. Her responsibilities include "Everything! (I'm the only employee here, although I have the help of a terrific volunteer who used to be a paid employee before she retired)." Pam graduated from the University of Iowa's library school. She has a BA in English from Coe College, a master's in English from Loras College, and a MFA in creative writing/poetry from the University of Nebraska. Pam's hometown is Davenport, IA. Her hobbies include writing poetry and a biweekly newspaper column. "Until I took this job in mid-June, I had been away from the library profession for twelve years," she says. "I have worked in academic, public, and special (archival) libraries. I originally came to Mercy-Dubuque to be the publications coordinator — writing the public and staff newsletters, media releases, and so on. When the longtime librarian here retired after 37 years, I jumped at the chance to take his place. A lot of people here were very surprised to learn I had a library degree! I'm enjoying the job's range of responsibilities and thrilled to be back in the field."
Kate MacDougall is a library intern at the FRIENDS Depression Education Resource Center at the University of Michigan Depression Center and the Health Sciences Library at the University of Michigan. She also provides InfoPoint reference services. Her responsibilities include collection development, circulation, reference services, expert searching, and community outreach. Her professional interests include consumer health and academic health sciences. Kate is a student at the University of Michigan's School of Information and will graduate this December. She has a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Her hometown is Riverview, MI. Kate's interests include "community service, photography, origami, drawing, Ruby (my beautiful miniature schnauzer), cooking, and any outdoors activities like kayaking." She adds, "After attending the annual meeting last month, I am very excited to start my career as a librarian and work out in the field with so many wonderful and talented people."
Anna Robbins is Electronic Services Librarian at St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic (SMDC) Health Sciences Library of the SMDC Health System. She "implements, manages, and promotes the library's electronic resources; provides bibliographic instruction; manages the OPAC and catalogs new resources; provides reference services and literature searches; and provides ILL support as needed." Anna is originally from Luck, WI, but has lived in the Duluth, MN, area for seven years. She enjoys "reading, knitting, gardening, cooking, and enjoying the beautiful scenery of Duluth."
Caralee Witteveen-Lane is Head of Circulation at the library of Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She works at the reference desk in addition to managing the circulation desk and ten staff members. She also participates on committees and is a member of several professional organizations. Her professional interests include health law. Caralee received her MLIS from Wayne State University in 2008. She has a BA in English from Calvin College and a master's degree in writing from DePaul University. Her hometown is Fremont, MI, "home of Gerber Baby Food." Caralee enjoys hiking, writing, and spending time with her family. "As a recent graduate from Wayne's program but long-time library worker, I am thrilled to be a member of this organization for the first time. I specialized in health librarianship at Wayne and hope to stay involved locally with a new research project — a formal information needs assessment of the Grand Rapids consumer health community."