Emily Odza Email & Phone Number

I enjoy guiding people to the best resources, and consider the reference interview to be a delicate task. Preserving patrons' privacy while understanding what will provide them the best solution or next step along their journey requires utmost adaptability, flexibility, curiosity, good listening skills, compassion, and also good boundaries. I began a permanent half-time position at Hayward Public Library in January 2018 but joined Oakland Public Library as a permanent half time employee in November 2019. The new Hayward Main Library is totally inspiring for staff and patrons and it is interesting how the form the architecture takes influences who comes to the library and why. On my free days, I work a shift at Laney College and will continue with several shifts at Hayward PL (as a per diem). At OPL since 2010, I provided reference services to adults, teens, and children, assisted with weeding projects, suggested purchases, assisted with summer reading program sign-ups, and contributed to other projects for branch managers. I shared knowledge, ideas, and practices that I learned in one branch with other branches, and became familiar with patrons' varying needs and preferences in Oakland's diverse neighborhoods. I want to purchase for the fiction collection and start some projects at Eastmont that will raise awareness of this not so well known branch library located in the Eastmont Town Center (a converted shopping mall and formerly the site of a GM auto plant!).I completed the culminating project for the Masters in Library and Information Science and received my MLIS in December, 2009.As a freelancer, I completed a cataloging project for a lecturer at SF State. I researched best methods, software and materials for the project, and created an easy-to-use electronic catalog for his 1700-book library. Although mainly copy cataloging, some sleuthing was required to locate the rarer materials in this academic collection centering on U.S. and labor history. One employment goal is to become expert in creating digital resources in a museum or library. I also have enjoyed working on databases, taxonomies and other organizational systems. I interned at the SJSU School of Art and Design, helping to catalog slides of Chinese ceramics for a digital collection, www.worldimages.sjsu.edu. It was a good fit for me because I love art and I love to research.

Listed skills include Cataloging, Library, Collection Development, Research, and 40 others.