Liz Sundermann-Zinger Email & Phone Number

United States

I provide leadership to the Enoch Pratt Free Library and State Library Resource Center by working with the Vice President of Public Services and other library leaders to ensure that our customers have equitable access to the resources they need.I lead 18 administrative, public service, and system-support departments housed within the Central Library, which also serves as the State Library Resource Center. We provide services to the EPFL system as a whole, customers in Baltimore, and… Show more I provide leadership to the Enoch Pratt Free Library and State Library Resource Center by working with the Vice President of Public Services and other library leaders to ensure that our customers have equitable access to the resources they need.I lead 18 administrative, public service, and system-support departments housed within the Central Library, which also serves as the State Library Resource Center. We provide services to the EPFL system as a whole, customers in Baltimore, and libraries and customers across the state. We work in coalitions with leaders of the Maryland State Library Agency, Regional and County Library Systems, Academic Libraries, K-12 Libraries, and the Maryland Library Association to ensure that our services are in alignment with statewide priorities and needs.As the State Library Resource Center, the Central Library workers provide public and staff programming and training around the state. We manage the Maryland Interlibrary Loan program, Digital Maryland, and the Maryland State Publications Depository & Distribution Program. We organize and host four annual conferences for statewide library staff.We provide a vibrant and welcoming space for the people of Baltimore to access millions of books and other collection items, access to social workers, lawyers, nurses and other impact services, spaces to study and explore alone or with others, a state-of-the-art teen makerspace and recording studio, the only circulating vinyl record collection in Maryland, and access to specialized collections and staff focusing on a wide-array of topics including Maryland History, Art, Business and Entrepreneurship, Social Sciences, Children's Services, and more. We have a dedicated African American Department which features a serene reading room, expert staff, and a collection focused on the art and experiences of the African Diaspora. Show less

Towson, Maryland

I served as the Library's liaison to the Baltimore County Office of Information Technology, and worked with them to ensure that the tech infrastructure of the Library met all customer and staff needs. We worked together with staff teams and other stakeholders to build a new library website, and to migrate the intranet and other internal communication systems to O365 and Sharepoint. I was the Library's point of contact for all technology vendors, and was responsible for negotiating technology… Show more I served as the Library's liaison to the Baltimore County Office of Information Technology, and worked with them to ensure that the tech infrastructure of the Library met all customer and staff needs. We worked together with staff teams and other stakeholders to build a new library website, and to migrate the intranet and other internal communication systems to O365 and Sharepoint. I was the Library's point of contact for all technology vendors, and was responsible for negotiating technology contracts.My team was responsible for all innovative and emerging technology initiatives, including 3D design, additive manufacturing, XR initiatives, and more. We managed the entire process from needs assessment, design, purchasing, staff training, policy implementation, to maintenance and repair of equipment.We were able to pivot during the early days of the pandemic to ensure that all staff were able to work remotely by procuring, imaging, and distributing Wifi hotspots and laptops to everyone who needed them, and by providing training and support for working in a completely virtual environment. We migrated all library circulation, printing, and reference services to customers to a virtual and/or curbside model. As soon as we were able we began deploying hundreds of hotspots and Chromebooks to the public, and we, in collaboration with cross functional teams, created and managed the lending process.I served as a member of the Leadership Team, and worked with the Director and other members to ensure that Library policies and procedures were continually revised to best serve our staff and customers, and that BCPL offered the best and most innovative customer services. Show less

Baltimore, Maryland

As the Tech Ed Coordinator for the Maryland State Library, I was able to prototype statewide technology learning programs including VR and AR workshops for different audiences. In partnership with local library systems and regional businesses, I helped provide technology and computer science educational opportunities to thousands of library customers in Maryland.I provided leadership in and initiated statewide strategies for data/statistical collection to inform the design of library… Show more As the Tech Ed Coordinator for the Maryland State Library, I was able to prototype statewide technology learning programs including VR and AR workshops for different audiences. In partnership with local library systems and regional businesses, I helped provide technology and computer science educational opportunities to thousands of library customers in Maryland.I provided leadership in and initiated statewide strategies for data/statistical collection to inform the design of library services and outreach. As a team, we read and evaluated competitive grants for IMLS funds allocated to Maryland Public Libraries. Show less

Baltimore, Maryland

Maryland Public Libraries are strong supporters of Early Learning. I was a liaison with and manager of several statewide early learning initiatives, including the statewide Early Childhood Advisory Council, and the public library section of the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant.I coordinated two Innovation Expos, statewide events that invited library staff and the public to experience innovative projects such as: establishing local sharing economy practices, tool lending… Show more Maryland Public Libraries are strong supporters of Early Learning. I was a liaison with and manager of several statewide early learning initiatives, including the statewide Early Childhood Advisory Council, and the public library section of the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant.I coordinated two Innovation Expos, statewide events that invited library staff and the public to experience innovative projects such as: establishing local sharing economy practices, tool lending libraries, 3D printing programs for adults and youth, Biology-focused hacker spaces, Minecraft programming, robot making, soldering classes, etc. Library staff participated in private training sessions lead by the public keynote speakers. Members of the public got to see libraries in a new light, while statewide library staff could both interact with the various makers, artists, educators, etc., AND observe how they interacted with the public in a library setting.I partnered with outside education companies and nonprofits to establish Kids Can Code, a statewide focus on technology, computer science, and computer programming classes, workshops, and play sessions.My division won an IMLS Sparks! Ignition grant to pilot a project using the Primo robotics system to introduce preschoolers to the core concepts of computer science. DLDS and our partners worked together to develop curricula and evaluations for individual and family workshops.I was responsible for the oversight of the statewide Summer Reading Program and I helped coordinate the national Collaborative Summer Learning Program with individual county library system initiatives. I formed a state-wide Summer Reading Advisory Council to help address statewide frustrations and look into innovative summer reading models.I regularly developed and facilitated face-to-face and web-based training seminars for statewide library youth service staff. Show less

I worked directly with the purchasing department to ensure that this statewide circulating collection contained a representative back-catalog of teen fiction dating back to the 1800s, as well as a diverse current collection that was inclusive of teens from all walks of life, backgrounds, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, and sexuality. I sought to create a comprehensive collection of books for teens authored by and about Black Americans and other African Diaspora. I cultivated and… Show more I worked directly with the purchasing department to ensure that this statewide circulating collection contained a representative back-catalog of teen fiction dating back to the 1800s, as well as a diverse current collection that was inclusive of teens from all walks of life, backgrounds, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, and sexuality. I sought to create a comprehensive collection of books for teens authored by and about Black Americans and other African Diaspora. I cultivated and presented many workshops about teen librarianship and presented them at statewide library conferences and by invitation at libraries around the state. Some of the topics included: Book Clubs for Teens and Tweens, Readers Advisory for Teens, Intellectual Freedom, Technology, Bullying, and Teens (this workshop was also presented to teen and family audiences).I created many themed book-lists that were published on the library's website and were linked to by libraries around the US. I worked directly with local schools where I taught classes about searching strategies and research, and piloted a program lending e-readers to at-risk youth at a local parochial school.I worked with the Chief of the State Library Resource Center, designers, furniture vendors, and the Office of School and Student Services to plan a re-design of the library's teen space. This project took over a year, and was viewed by all as a successful renovation.I was concurrently the Assistant Manager of the Fiction Department, and my duties as such included staff scheduling, collection management, visual displays, updating the department's web page, training of new and seasoned staff, and handling customer concerns. Show less

I worked as a teen librarian for neighborhood services at the Southeast Anchor Library location of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. I worked with other members of my team to create and lead effective programs and provide valuable and fun resources for the teens in the Highlandtown area of Baltimore. I also established relationships with educators in the area in order to provide teachers and students with as many educational resources and services as possible.

A Variety Of Stores In Columbus, Oh And Chicago, Il

I held various management positions at 5 different store locations in Columbus, OH and Chicago, IL. I was responsible for team-building, ordered books and other merchandise, created effective training programs, was in charge of various loss prevention initiatives, managed the cash office, oversaw the shipping and receiving department, oversaw visual merchandising, ensured excellent customer service, ensured that the budget was adhered to and sales goals were met, and worked with district and… Show more I held various management positions at 5 different store locations in Columbus, OH and Chicago, IL. I was responsible for team-building, ordered books and other merchandise, created effective training programs, was in charge of various loss prevention initiatives, managed the cash office, oversaw the shipping and receiving department, oversaw visual merchandising, ensured excellent customer service, ensured that the budget was adhered to and sales goals were met, and worked with district and regional managers to create new store layouts. Show less

Mlis, Library And Information Science

Ba, English/Creative Writing