Graduate Profiles
Gail Kennedy, Director of the Lucille Little Fine Arts Library:
Gail Kennedy graduated with the MSLS degree in 1974. She has worked in University of Kentucky Libraries since 1970, starting as a library technician in the Circulation Dept. of Margaret I. King Library. She has held a variety of positions over the years in both public and technical services areas, including jobs such as Head of Circulation, Head of Acquisitions, Assistant Director for Technical Services, Associate Director of Libraries, and, currently, Director of the Lucille Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center. Along the way, Gail has also headed up a number of special projects for UK Libraries such as implementation of the online cataloging processing unit, reclassification of the Libraries’ collections from DDC to LC, and coordinating system wide planning and team development. One of her most interesting assignments was overseeing the clearing of furniture and equipment left behind in King Library following the opening of the William T. Young Library in 1998 and running an open, one day auction that netted $20,000.
Gail has served on a variety of UK committees including the University Self-Study, University Appeals Board, Teaching and Academic Support Center Advisory Board, and the University Committee on Academic Planning and Priorities. Her library professional service includes terms as Chair of the Board of Directors of SOLINET (now LYRASIS) and President of the Library Leadership and Management Association of ALA. She has been the recipient of KLA’s Outstanding Academic Librarian award and received the 2011 Outstanding Alumna award from the School of Library and Information Science.
Gail’s advice to current SLIS students is to be a risk taker—one who accepts challenges, seizes opportunities and steps outside their comfort zone to work in areas that might not have been part of their master plan. Cultivate contacts, not just in librarianship but more broadly in business, government, civic organizations, etc. The field of information science is rapidly changing. Know that the jobs that are there today may be gone or radically changed tomorrow. Flexibility, adaptability and a diverse skill set are the keys to success as a librarian of the 21st century.
Zachary Young, Information Services Librarian at Frontier Nursing University:
I am Zach Young, the Information Services Librarian at Frontier Nursing University, and a 2010 graduate of UK SLIS. I am currently a member of MLA, Midwest MLA, and KMLA. Some personal interests include soccer, photography, travel. My plans for the future include continuing my research on teaching nursing students to use mobile devices, and publishing my research once it is complete. My advice to current SLIS students would be to get involved! Ask your faculty what kinds of research they are doing, and if it sounds like something interesting, volunteer to help. Attend professional conferences if you can and be on the lookout for scholarships that will help you attend. Many professional organizations offer reduced students rates for membership or conference attendance. Take advantage of these opportunities. Going to library school is more than just completing assignments for your courses. You MUST get involved professionally.
Amy Laub, Head of Technical Services & Acquisitions, Paris-Bourbon County Library:
I'm a 2009 SLIS graduate and currently I'm Head of Technical Services & Acquisitions at the Paris-Bourbon County Library in Paris, KY. I also serve on the Intellectual Freedom Committee for KPLA and in the next year I hope to present my director and library board with a proposal for a new classification system based on customer needs and search practices.
My advice for current SLIS students consists of three things: 1. never turn down an opportunity for experience (in the library world and in other aspects of life); 2. go to as many conferences as possible; and 3. take advantage of getting SLIS credit for professional field experience. I have served on three hiring committees for professional positions and one of the most important things we look for is experience in libraries (either as a paid position or a volunteer position).