WebJunction

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Venice Beske
Wyoming State Library (Cheyenne)
Wyoming State Coordinator for the IMLS Grant

I’m currently the Program Manager for Statewide Information Services at the Wyoming State Library. The primary focus of our collection is government information. We manage three depository library programs-state, federal and patent and trademark.

I’ve used docs my whole life. My Dad introduced me to topographic maps, agricultural documents and geological survey publications at a very young age. I used ERIC documents as a teacher and various federal publications as a fisheries biologist. When I finally studied to become a librarian and took a docs course, I knew that I wanted to be a government publications librarian. In January of 1991 I took a job as the Federal Depository Librarian at Wyoming State Library.

I’ve used documents primarily as a reference and research librarian and I enjoy being able to show people the treasure trove of information that exists in government publications. That’s why I’m so excited about the “Government Information in the 21st Century” program. I hope many more librarians become comfortable with the resources available through the federal government.

I have many favorite publications, particularly in the Congressional Serial Set and the Department of Interior but there are some that I have purchased for my own use. One is Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States. It contains wonderful photographs of seeds and excellent information about collecting and growing plants from them.

Jason Grubb
Western Wyoming Community College (Rock Springs)

After completing a MLS degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo (Go Bulls!) in 2004, I took a position at the Sheridan County Public Library in Sheridan, Wyoming as the Information Services Manager.  This is a fancy title for all sorts of wonderful library work including reference services, collection development and government document over site. This position lasted until the fall of 2006 when I moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming to work as the Associate Librarian at the Western Wyoming Community College Hay Library. As the Associate Librarian, I am directly responsible for cataloguing and processing all library materials. This includes the library's government document collection.  My favorite document is anything online. I love the idea of the electronic or virtual depository--easy to process, ability to create electronic bibliographies and available for access 24/7. With so many possibilities, I can't think of a better time to be a librarian.

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Jamie Marcus
Wyoming State Library (Cheyenne)

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Meg Martin
Wyoming State Law Library (Cheyenne)

After 25 years as an Office Manager, I went back to school.  First I attended law school at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and then I proceeded to get my MLIS at the University of Missouri-Columbia through the distance education program.  I have been the Public Services librarian at the Wyoming State Law Library since August 2005.  I help patrons with reference in person and online and prepare guides and presentations for professionals and non-professionals.  

I am partial to the Statutes at Large because it makes my job easier when patrons are looking for something but are uncertain of the exact title of the item.  Sometimes they know the year or which session of Congress and then off we go on the search.

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Mikki Thomas
Campbell County Public Library (Gilette)

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Christine Van Burgh
Wyoming State Library (Cheyenne)

I am the Statewide Outreach Librarian.  I provide training and support to the public and school libraries on our online databases.

I have worked with government documents, both state and federal, since 1981.  I worked for the University of Wyoming libraries in Government Documents, Maps and Microforms and in the Geology Library doing reference and instruction for government documents.  While there I created Information Sources in Government Documents: Materials for Teachers. 

I have a Masters in Education with emphasis in Adult Education and Library Science.  I have been a trainer for over 12 years.

One of my favorite docs is the Indian Reading Series.  I created a program with an elementary teacher using this series.