Member’s Spotlight: Sara Harrington

Sara Harrington, head of arts and archives, poses for a portrait inside the Reading Room at the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections at the Vernon R. Alden Library on Friday, July 24, 2015. (Tyler Stabile/Ohio University Libraries)

 

This month’s member’s spotlight features Sara Harrington. She is the Head of Arts and Archives at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.  Not very long ago, Sara was our Chair (2013-2014) and Vice-Chair (2012-2013) of the Arts Section.

Tell us what type of library do you work in?

Academic research institution

How long have you been a member of ACRL/Arts Section?

A long time!

Describe your position and what you like best about it.

As the Head of Arts and Archives, I work with the Fine Arts Library, the Music and Dance Library, and Archives and Special Collections. I also collaborate with staff members across the Ohio University Libraries to integrate library collections into university curricula. What I like best about my position is that every day is different. I am involved in a range of administrative and other activities that bring me into contact with students, staff, and faculty, as well as researchers around the world, as they engage with Ohio University Libraries’ distinctive and general collections.

What are you reading or what is the latest exhibition you have seen?

The last exhibition I visted was “Melvin Edwards: Five Decades: at the Columbus Museum of Art” in Columbus, Ohio. It was a striking exhibit stunningly installed in the museum’s new exhibit space.

Tell us about the arts related activities you are involved in outside of librarianship.

I love to teach art history when I have the chance. My favorite subjects to teach are nineteenth-century French art and introduction to art history: prehistoric through early Renaissance art.

Do you have a website/blog link and/or social media handles (ex. Twitter, Instagram Facebook etc.) you’d like to share?

I adore Twitter and enjoy following people but don’t tweet!

Describe your vision for ACRL/Arts Section in three words.

Connection. Exploration. Strategy.

Interested in being featured in Member’s Spotlight? Fill out the form here and send a photo to gekosky@gmail.com.

Member’s Spotlight: Jennifer Cox

This month’s member’s spotlight features Jennifer Cox. She is the Supervising Librarian at The Art Institute of Portland.  Jennifer is our next vice chair (2016-2017)/chair elect (2017-2018) of the Arts Section.

Tell us what type of library do you work in?
Art and Design College

How long have you been a member of ACRL/Arts Section?
3 years

Describe your position and what you like best about it.
My position is a little of everything and I enjoy that. The best part of my job is connecting with students whether that is in the classroom for information literacy instruction or meeting with students one-on-one to assist them with projects or papers.

What are you reading or what is the latest exhibition you have seen?
We have regular gallery openings on the ‘First Thursday’ of every month in Portland. After going to our in-house student or faculty exhibit, I regularly explore other local installations. This helps me keep apprised of local trends as well as visiting artists. It’s a great way to connect with our students and to find niche titles to further the depth in our collection.

Tell us about the arts related activities you are involved in outside of librarianship.
I’m a big supporter of the robust Portland art community. Keeping up with up students and faculty projects keeps me current in the trends and activities of our community. Personally I am a classically trained singer so I’m always looking for new projects or groups to be apart of; singing is a wonderful stress reliever.

Describe your vision for ACRL/Arts Section in three words.
Responsive, Collaborative, Forward-thinking

Stay up to date with Jennifer on Twitter-Bibliothecaire@lafrancememanqu, Instagram-@lafrancememanque, and Linked In-https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cox-830a776

Interested in being featured in Member’s Spotlight? Fill out the form here and send a photo to sgekosky@wvup.edu.

Member’s Spotlight: Shannon Marie Robinson

This month’s member’s spotlight features Shannon Marie Robinson. She is the Liaison Librarian in Media Arts & Design at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the ACRL/Arts Section’s new Webmaster. Stay up to date with Shannon’s blog at shannonmarierobinson.com, her Tumblr MA&D Librarian, and her Twitter @ArtistLibrarian.

Tell us what type of library do you work in?
Academic research institution

How long have you been a member of ACRL/Arts Section?
Four years

Describe your position and what you like best about it.
I have been in my current position only about three months! It’s your typical liaison librarian job. Instruction, reference, faculty support, and collection development are my biggest responsibilities. The College of Media Arts & Design is far-ranging in the programs offered. The departments include Architecture & Interior Design, Art & Art History, Arts & Entertainment Enterprise, Cinema & TV, Design, Digital Media, and Performing Arts. I’m working with animators, game designers, photographers, fashion designers, arts administrators, television producers … someone new every day. The programs in these departments are industry-focused so I am learning a lot about the business aspects of arts and design. One student will need assistance researching a Renaissance painter and the next will ask for help with demographics and company financials. The diversity of the programs is challenging, but very interesting.

What are you reading or what is the latest exhibition you have seen?
The last exhibition I saw was Art Brut in America: The Incursion of Jean Dubuffet at the American Folk Art Museum in NYC. I’m a huge fan of Outsider Art or Art Brut.

Tell us about the arts related activities you are involved in outside of librarianship.
Though I’m trained in textiles, I haven’t found a way to balance my art practice with a full-time librarian job and professional activities. Once I am settled back in Philadelphia, I hope to re-start some embroidery/weaving/quilting projects. After I stopped exhibiting my work, I started creating pieces for family, friends, and colleagues; I really enjoyed that. In the meantime, I discovered a gem of a gallery in West Philadelphia, just up the street from Drexel University. It’s the Esther Klein Gallery and they host exhibits that explore the relationships between art, science, and technology. I love poking my head in each month to see what’s new.

Do you have any upcoming publications that you would like to tell us about?
Sure, I have an article coming up in College & Research Libraries to be published (probably) in November called Artists as Scholars: The Research Behavior of Dance Faculty (there is a link to the pre-printed article). I’ll be presenting on the research at ALA in Orlando.

Describe your vision for ACRL/Arts Section in three words.
Colleagues becoming friends

Interested in being featured in Member’s Spotlight. Fill out the form here and send a photo to sgekosky@wvup.edu.