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I Am MLA: Marilyn M. Goff

Submitted by Marilyn Goff; edited by JJ Pionke.
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Institution: Texas Woman's University Institute of Health Sciences Houston

Title: Library Manager

Brief description of responsibilities:

Manage a virtual and an on-site library for a PhD-granting university for Business, Health Care Administration, Library Science, Nursing, Nutrition & Food Sciences, Occupational and Physical Therapy. Participate managing electronic resources and in teaching library research to faculty, staff, and students. Participate in internal and external committees and professional volunteering concerning library matters at local, regional, national, and international levels.

Why is MLA important to you?

The importance of MLA for me is for MLA to advocate and educate at local, national, and international levels on the importance of medical librarianship, including being active in supportive civic actions to promote and improve medical librarianship.

Why did you become a librarian?

In the third grade, I decided that I wanted to continue to learn daily and to help those who want to learn to educate themselves and make a better world.

What was your first library job or first professional position?

My first library job was volunteering at my elementary school library, and my first professional job was as an oil company librarian in my hometown of Houston, Texas.

What is your advice to someone taking on a new role in leadership in MLA or in some other capacity?

Be assertive, involved, responsible, and a mentor to others not yet in leadership. Be Texas friendly.

What has been the most interesting project you have worked on?

Classified above top secret for a US Air Force medical library over twenty-five years ago, so my lips are sealed, but being a military medical librarian can be great!

What do you consider to be the most pressing issues or trends in librarianship?

Educating and getting the support of politicians to know the value of medical librarianship and to obtain sufficient support from them to provide medical and other libraries the support we need to connect, outreach, educate, and obtain higher utilization of resources by the public.

Bucket list:

Rescuing, training and re-homing more Scottish terrier dogs.

What do you do in your spare time?

I volunteer to clean Texas beaches, rescue terrier dogs, am a rosarian, an organic gardener, and enjoy sewing, reading, watching the skies, camping, and traveling.

What is the best thing you’ve read/watched/listened to recently?

Ancient Aliens TV show.

Five words to describe you:

Enthusiastic, friendly, wondering, caring, learning

Is there anything about you that others might be surprised to know?

I am a member of MUFON.

What are you most proud of?

Those who try their best.

Additional information:

I have worked in libraries that are school, university, private, public, for profit, not for profit, military, civilian, Roman Catholic, special, and governmental.

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