Library Director for the City of Escondido Public Library.

Inaugural director for the City of Homestead's Cybrarium: an ultra-modern, public library that bridges the gap between literacy and cutting-edge technology. Using innovations like augmented and virtual reality, texture mapping, and interactive robots, the Cybrarium aims to bring excitement back to libraries, literacy, and learning.Accomplishments:* Led the opening of a 23,000 sq. ft. public library in a diverse suburban setting serving a population of nearly 100k.* Oversaw the growth of library membership from zero cardholders to more than 20,000 in less than three years: each month seeing more than 500 new registrations.* Successfully proposed the expansion of the library by two floors, more than doubling the library footprint. Following City Council approval, the project is in the planning stage as of 8/23/23.Responsibilities* Optimized library operations based on key assessments.* Successfully mentored staff, achieving operational and personal development targets.* Managed staff recruitment, performance, and optimization.* Enhanced customer service and patron experiences.* Stayed updated with library trends and socio-economic influences.* Led local to company-level initiatives, ensuring operational excellence.* Utilized analytics for efficient operations and trend identification.* Managed budget-conscious material acquisition and processing.* Strengthened relationships with local stakeholders and officials.* Actively sourced community feedback to refine services.* Cultivated a compliant, positive, and safe work environment.* Implemented and oversaw HR policies and procedures.* Championed the American Library Association’s principles.* Ensured strict adherence to patron privacy and legal guidelines.

Elected to a 3-year term to serve on the Board of Directors for the Southeast Florida Information Network (SEFLIN), a non-profit membership organization of Southeast Florida libraries dedicated to supporting cooperation between all library types in our service area. The SEFLIN region includes Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties with a service population of over six million.All corporate powers of SEFLIN are exercised by or under the authority of the Board of Directors.

Management and oversight for the Main Library's Maker Studios, special collections, programming, website, and community engagement. Librarian III: Supervisory, professional, interactive instruction, learning and technology work of more than ordinary difficulty and responsibility as a supervisor of a major service area or large branch. Supervises, trains, and evaluates employees engaged in a variety of services within the library system.  Assigns and coordinates the work of professional and/or para-professional staff members rendering interactive programming, circulation, collection development and instruction services. Works with community and governmental groups, individuals, Friends of the Library, and schools to extend and improve library services and increase community engagement.  Responsible for development of an active ongoing schedule of special programming throughout the library system. Participates actively in providing service to the public. Researches, writes, submits and administers grants and awards under the guidelines maintained by the library system and city. Prepares reports and maintains records of performance, services, and activities.  May act as spokesperson for library system.

Oversight of the Studios at Main, the CPLS Main Library Maker Spaces; supervision of Library staff including Library Program Specialists; partnership liaison and partnership building to local businesses & community groups; outreach and public presentations; overseeing the operation of the 4th floor Heritage Studio with regular hands on involvement; assisting the public with local history needs; planning, implementing, or assisting in various Maker/Local History programs; and other traditional library duties as needed.

Professional level work supporting, coordinating or leading library programs/projects, teaching and coaching of staff and citizens, providing customer service, conducting research, performing analytical type work and coordinating collections.

Worked alongside library staff to revitalize, develop, and promote the Techno Teens Program: a leadership development program which provides teens the opportunity to apply tech skills to serve the community by assisting patrons with computers and technology, helping teach computer classes, promoting digital literacy, and empowering communities through technology.• Directly involved at all levels of the program design, planning, training, implementation, and review.• Sought community partners, produced marketing and promotion materials, and prepared training programs for Techno Teens and for community classes.• Co-developed a two-week half-day summer camp program for children, ages 7-11, designed to introduce the exciting opportunities offered by careers in science and technology through crafts, games, and other interpersonal activities.

Worked with the Education Foundation's Texcellence Program to manage and coordinate the first Digital Learning Lab in a public library in Sarasota County. The lab, consisting of 30 computers and accessories, provides software and digital learning platforms to build digital literacy skills and support future student success through the promotion of self-directed learning and productive use of technology. The lab is open to all students (K-12) and their parents.• Designed and taught weekly classes to promote an interest in technology and highlight lab software and learning platforms, such as PowerMyLearning.org, to promote enrollment in and use of the Digital Learning Lab and Texcellence Program.• Class topics [and software] include: Programming with Scratch [Scratch 2.6], Digital Coloring Books [GIMP 2.8], Google Skills Scavenger Hunt [Google.com], Arcade Game Design [Sploder.com], and others.• Created PowerMyLearning playlists -- groups of activities, websites, and games related to a single subject or goal -- tailored to weekly class subjects and to specific students needs.• Monitored and tracked student progress and compiled student's data through usage reports.

Worked with staff to improve awareness of, and access to, the library's electronic resources through outreach, instruction, and programming. • Designed and taught computer and technology classes based the needs of the community and in consultation with library staff. Over 40 classes have been taught -- approximately 20 per 3 month period -- with topics of classes including "Computer Basics," "Intermediate Computing," "The Internet," "Facebook and Social Networking," "Digital Photo Management," "Social Media for Small Business," and "iPad Basics." Plans for more classes are ongoing.• Assisted staff with events, such as ManaCon (designed and presented "Video Game Design with SCRATCH" and taught brief Japanese lessons) and South Branch's 2013 Open House (responsible for the "Technology Petting Zoo" designed to increase awareness of e-books and audio-books).

Assisted circulation/reference desk as point person for the computer lab, computer sign-up station, and printer station.Setup, troubleshot, and instructed patrons in the use of eBook readers (i.e. Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc.), including download and use of Overdrive site & apps.Proactively answered technology questions and solved routine-to-advanced technology problems: connecting to wifi, printing documents, creating email accounts, email problems, Microsoft Office queries, Website malfunctions/capabilities, digital photo downloads, among others.Instructed patrons in basic digital and information literacies: finding and using search engines, navigating the library website, locating the library catalog, and accessing and downloading eBooks.Directed patrons to full-time library staff for reference questions and for detailed information regarding library resources.

Provided instruction, managed the classroom environment, and promoted student learning in the absence of full-time high school faculty in all subject areas.• Implemented lesson plans, while ensuring the integrity of academic time and motivating students to learn and participate.• Taught in a highly diverse school with students from over 100 countries.

Provided tutoring to a diverse student body in all subject areas and prepared students for standardized college-prep tests.• Prepared and executed short-term and long-term tutoring plans tailored to the needs of students.• Worked with students, parents, and teachers to adapt learning strategies for tutoring lessons.

Maintained and updated the archive's cataloging database, website, and IT systems.Applied web 2.0 standards and creative design concepts to update and revitalize the website and online marketing for the archive.Researched and developed a workflow to process existing database entries and convert them to MARC21 or another machine-readable standard for incorporation of archive data into union catalogs [ongoing].

Worked together with fellow mentors to manage all aspects of dormitory life including physical, social and emotional well-being of students, aged 8-23; interacting directly to respond to all camper (and parent) needs, requests, and inquiries.Interpreted Spanish and Japanese to English (and vice-versa) for staff and campers; routinely calling parents for IMG.Coordinated with Activities staff to promote, organize, and carry out fun activities, also chaperoning off-campus trips.

Worked under the direction of the Curator of Prints and Drawings to catalog and digitize Yale University's Cushing/Whitney Medical Historical Library's newly formed collection of historical medical posters.Analyzed more than 300 prints, paintings, and drawings; precisely recorded each item's physical dimensions and unique characteristics (such as rips/tears, written notes, fading, etc.); prepared PDF document translations of select works; and imputed all relevant data into an online database for use in the final public digital collection.Other duties included: offering creative advice regarding the presentation of physical exhibits,preparing and cutting mat board for mounting, transporting and reorganizing works within the collection, aiding the collection photographer in capturing images for digitization, and assisting in other administrative tasks as needed.

Assisted in all aspects of running the Special Collections Library, including circulation, processing, and collection maintenance.Archived sub-collections of the Irene Pace D. Andrews Bookplate Collection and produced research finding aids for each processed collection. Each sub-collection required the sorting and organizing of thousands of bookplates into archival folders and boxes according to predetermined subject areas and arranged alphabetically by type (individual, business/institution, non-bookplate, etc.); with each finished box's contents accurately documented in its corresponding finding aid. Also assisted the Arts Library Crest Fellow in the preparation and archiving of the Richard Minksy Collection at Yale University.Other duties included: managing and completing patron book, photocopy, and scan requests; carefully explaining proper library procedures for use of restricted materials to researchers, shelving material and general upkeep of the collection, using Voyager Circulation module to keep track of collection flow, and other supplementary duties as needed.

Worked with a large and dynamic team in the everyday maintenance of Yale University's largest and most active library collection.Shelved hundreds of books on a daily basis, corrected and recorded other student shelving errors, trained new students on proper library procedures (including LC classification system, library layout, and other processing procedures), searched for lost materials, and routinely aided patrons in finding physical and digital materials and using photo-copy machines.Other duties included: working with circulation and access services in locating in-process (e.g. not on shelf) materials for borrow-direct and ILL requests, shifting and reorganizing of collections, checking accuracy of shelving guides, and collecting materials from the stacks for processing and re-shelving.

Assisted Access Services with managing patron requests and maintaining library materials ready for use.Retrieved patron requests on-demand, completed photocopy and microfilm copy requests, searched for and routinely located missing items, and shifted materials in order to maximize the efficiency of retrievals. Trained to handle rare and fragile materials, such as: ancient papyrus, medieval manuscripts/incunabula, small works of art, photographs, 1st edition copies of books/novels, and correspondence from a range of authors, politicians, and academics.Other duties included: training new hires in handling and locating materials, carefully explaining library rules and procedures to new researchers and students (such as use restrictions, operating microfilm machines, and additional research resources available at the library), and aiding in other tasks as needed.