Submitted by P J Grier; edited by JJ Pionke
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Institution: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Title: Associate Director, Operations and Assessment
Brief description of responsibilities
I manage daily operations that include electronic resources, payroll, technical, systems and public services, and facilities management for all libraries. I oversee the planning and organizing of operations work flows, interpret policies and procedures, and manage the budget. Additionally, I assist the director in long-term needs assessments and strategic planning. I also collect/organize library use and financial data for input into annual reports and analyze year-to-year differences. Additionally, I utilize appropriate methods to design and administer user-centered assessment protocols and tools.
Why is MLA important to you?
It is important to have a professional association to call home.
Why did you become a librarian?
In the late ’90s, the Internet was in its infancy, and I saw the advantage of what librarianship brought to content organization and access. I have always believed in professional reinvention, and librarianship is my third career endeavor.
What was your first library job or first professional position?
I was senior project manager–information delivery for the Pharmaceutical Research Institute, a division of Johnson & Johnson, and directly hired immediately after completing my master’s of library and information science (MLIS) from Drexel University.
What has been the most interesting project you have worked on?
Creating, from the ground up, a clinical information delivery alliance for Delaware’s community-based hospitals. This effort required influencing state and local funders, key public/private stakeholders, plus the acquisition of a shared identity software for all hospitals and the group purchasing of e-resources.
What do you consider to be the most pressing issues or trends in librarianship?
Due to the pandemic, how does leadership equitably implement social distancing, while automatically controlling access to the physical library?
Bucket list
To visit the Seychelles. They have the most beautiful beaches in the world and are staunch environmentalists.
Five words to describe you
Loyal, honest, over-thinker, empathetic (working on it!), and practical.
Is there anything about you that others might be surprised to know?
I’ve been an avid motorcyclist for thirty years. Though I have temporarily given it up, I plan to resume it when I retire in Baja California Sur, Mexico.