|
Direct Links
online selection tools for YBP
and Baker & Taylor Customers
|
|
| Meet the Librarian |
| |
Cyndy Davis
Director of Learning Resources
Bennett Library
New Hampshire Community Technical College
Laconia, NH
Cyndy Davis with a student. |
Cyndy Davis is the Director of Learning Resources at Bennett Library, New Hampshire Community Technical College in Laconia, New Hampshire. She has worked at the library for 3 years; previously she lived in Vermont where she worked at Southern Vermont College. Her educational background consists of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology, UNC Chapel Hill and a Masters Degree in Library Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After one year of studying for a Masters Degree in Anthropology, she decided to change directions. When thought was given to what she loved to do, reading was the first word that came to mind, her librarian interest began in special libraries for aerospace companies. Initially Cyndy thought how wonderful it would be to have access to all the newly published books, thinking she would work in a public library. In her final semester of library school, she joined the Special Libraries Student Club and toured many interesting special libraries including Walt Disney Studio Libraries and the Natural History Museum Library. Those visits plus her part time job as a reference assistant at California State University-Fullerton beckoned her down the path of reference work in special libraries.
Today Cyndy finds the best part of her job is helping students succeed by teaching them how to help themselves in not only finding, evaluating, and utilizing information, but critically thinking about the information and what it is trying to say. Most materials used by patrons are the electronic databases and vast array of books offered at the Bennett Library. Cyndy and her staff of one work hard to establish collaborative relationships with the college personnel and students in hopes that the library will become the "the heart" of the college. The library hosts the Honor Society Induction as well as graduation ceremonies for certificate programs…sponsors a Friends of Bennett Library Club which raises "extra" monies to purchase student requests, such as wireless access, and to provide student requested activities or programming…co-sponsors college activities such as International Week, food drives, etc. with other college clubs, the Student Senate, and the Honor Society…organized a library committee made up of faculty and staff to provide consultation on library activities, policies and procedures…works with faculty to provide and to co-sponsor class programming such as a children's author to speak to the Introduction to Children's Literature class.
Cyndy believes a one-on-one method is one of the best ways to encourage people to use the library; this is exhibited by her individual availability to the patrons of the library. She interacts with the college community as much as possible. The library is part of the new student and faculty orientation. She provides "library updates" along with other topics of interest such as plagiarism or copyright as in-service programs. Cyndy makes an effort to be included in as many college community meetings as possible and volunteers to serve on committees. The college has an electronic newsletter in which she advertises and/or highlights new resources or services available.
Cyndy believes change is the biggest challenge that community college librarians have to face. How to keep up with the constant rapid changes in technology, in information - how it is formatted and retrieved, and even change in user base and their wants and needs, is a constant learning process. Employer support, both financially and personally, for ongoing education and training for the library staff is an absolute necessity.
|
|
|
|
|
