WebJunction

Hola Round 3 Trainers and Coordinators,

Welcome to the WJ message boards! This our space to exchange information and ideas and to support each other throughout the coming year. And have some fun!

Please take a minute or two to introduce yourself to your fellow trainers, coordinators, and the staff here at WebJunction so we can start to get to know each other. Tell us your name, the state you represent, your current position and a little bit about yourself. And just for fun, add something interesting about yourself that we wouldn't otherwise know.

I'll go first. I'm Laura Staley and I’m the project coordinator for the Spanish Language Outreach Program. I’ve been with the program since it began almost 3 years ago and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with all of you over the next year. I am a native of the Seattle area (pretty uncommon these days) and spent several formative years as a high school teacher. Before coming to WebJunction, I worked for a non-profit called NPower helping non-profits utilize technology to further their missions.

My piece of personal trivia is that I can play the Marimba.

We are looking forward to meeting all of you this fall! Attached is a picture of WJ staff at the REFORMA reception at ALA earlier this summer. That is me in the black and white dress and Emily is in the white sweater.

For more WJ ALA photos visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/webjunction/collections/72157600887294485/.

Laura

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Hola! My name is Zola Maddison and I'm a Special Projects Coordinator at WJ - which means I get to work with a lot of different teams here. I love working with SLO because it ties together all the things I love about libraries - community, culture and, of course, reading!

I'm pretty new to WebJunction - I just started here in May. Before that I worked at the Washington State Library as a reference & outreach librarian. I've also worked in academic libraries and have been able to work on library projects in remote areas of Guatemala (with Emily!) and South Africa. Prior to libraries, I created literacy programs for immigrant youth living in public housing communities in Seattle. I'm really excited to get to know all of you and hear about the great work you're doing in your communities.

On a personal note: I've got a pug dog named Deano (named after Dean Martin - the party pug!) and I love to travel and cook - preferably at the same time!

My name is Jamie Matczak, and I work for the Nicolet Federated Library System in Green Bay, WI. I wear several hats in my position. I coordinate Continuing Education, Youth Services, Special Needs and Public Relations for eight counties (42 libraries) in our system.

I have worked at Nicolet for just over a year, but I love what I do and enjoy the libraries that I work with. I'm from the Green Bay area, but I love to travel ( I am actually going to China in March!) I also enjoy working out, cooking, writing, reading and spending time with friends and family.

One interesting tidbit about me is that I am a fitness instructor at our downtown YMCA. I teach cardio kickboxing and get many Spanish speakers in my classes. Sometimes I will "count down" the eight counts in Spanish. That always gets a laugh from my participants!

I'm looking forward to this training and meeting most of you in September!

Hola. My name is Ann Roberts and I am the Coordinator for the state of Missouri. My official title is Adult Services Consultant. I have been in the job since May 1st and coordinating Spanish Language Outreach has been my main focus, although my job does entail other things. More than once, one of my co-workers has said to me "This is a big project", and I feel it!

We plan to do twelve workshops around Missouri, which might not seem like much, but when you add "working within the parameters of state government", it complicates matters exponentially! I've never been so confused, as Laura Staley can attest.

In addition to having my MLS, I also have a Master's Degree in Music-my emphasis was vocal music-so I am a classically trained opera singer and usually like to belt out an aria after a glass of wine-maybe over dinner at Tulio's! I am also a Certified Archivist and have a book coming out in a few months about caring for special collections in small libraries from Libraries Unlimited.

In spite of my newbie status and uncertainty about most everything I do in my new job, I am very happy to be a part of this project and am looking forward to a good time and doing good work. See you all in September!

Oooh, that Catie is a cutie. Enjoy her visit!

Stephanie Zimmerman

Don't worry, Marian...I don't have my MLS, either. My BA is in advertising and my MS is in Education. I do think that varied experiences are valuable in the work that we do. Sometimes it's good to bring in different perspectives!

Hola! I am Shirley Hansen and I work for the Idaho Commission for Libraries in Boise, Idaho. For the past two years I have served as Office Services Supervisor and recently moved into the position of Librarian after finishing my MLS degree from Texas Woman’s University via their online program in May. My background is varied – or checkered – with experience in secondary education, business and library technical services. My third career pathway is proving to be an exciting time in the field of librarianship. I look forward to identifying innovative means by which libraries can be front runners in this wonderful age of information.

On a personal note, I grew up in Idaho, moved to Washington state where I lived for about 30 years (on the east side in the desert), and now have returned to my state of origin. It is great to be back!! My cat and I have a nice little house with the appropriate “little” yard so we can focus on living life, rather than maintaining it!

The visuals are of Miss Kitty and myself!

Shirley

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I'll buy the glass of wine if you promise to sing!

Congrats on the upcoming nuptuals, Emily! What an exciting time! You must be Wonder Woman to be able deal with wedding plans and this SLO training at the same time! Best wishes!

Thanks - as excited as I am about it, I'll be glad to be thinking of something else. Like the Training Institute!