I am a full time Library Assistant II in the Binding Preparation Unit of the MSU Libraries.
I began in 1992 as a student assistant in the Map Library. Afterwards, I worked my way up to become a student assistant in the Main Office. After a year of working there, I was promoted into the Libraries Human Resources Office where I handled student payroll and many other personnel related tasks.
After graduating from MSU in December of 1994, I began working half-time in the Binding Preparation unit in February, 1995. In March of the same year, I began working half-time in the Government Documents library. In February 2000, I left the Government Documents unit for a higher half-time position in the Library Instruction unit. In May of 2003, the Library Instruction unit was reorganized and I was reassigned to work full-time as an LAII in the Binding Preparation Unit.
I am mainly responsible for preparing journals to be bound. Our unit oversees the preparation of library materials prior to their being transferred to a commercial binder. Many types of materials are bound including books and periodicals from all over the library and its branches. All the periodicals from the Periodical Reading Room (PRR) are sent to our unit. I inspect, measure, and verify the contents of each set of magazines or journals that will be bound together. I enter spine information into a computer so that the cover can be manufactured and printed by the commercial binder. Once prepared, these materials are shipped out. When they return, they are transferred to the main stacks (East & West). In addition to PRR journals and magazines I also prepare materials from branch libraries although the influx of this work is more infrequent.
I also handle other binding related tasks. These include the creation of item records for stacks (main) titles, linking barcodes to item records, and marking database records for stacks titles after they return from the binder. Various problems arise from these responsibilities which require me to invoke problem solving skills necessary for the maintenance of the database and the general workflow.
Pursuant to my personal interest in photography, I am currently taking photography classes. Thus, I am constantly developing my skills and techniques in the photographic arts. As part of this development, I have become increasingly involved in the photographic needs of the MSU Libraries. On several occasions, I have contributed to the Libraries Development Newsletter and the Special Collections newsletter by taking photographs of people, rare books, and library related events. I continue to take photos for these publications as needed. Additionally, I assist with photos for various web site and public relations projects. I also maintain the staff photo board.
In 1995, I served on the Student Employment Coordinating Committee (SECC) Fall Orientation Sub Committee. In 1996, I served as co-chair for the same committee. In 1997, I chaired both the regular SECC and the 1997 SECC Fall Orientation Sub Committee.