I grew up in Urbana, a college town, in Illinois. I was fortunate to have a small town where pretty much everyone went to the same middle school and the same high school. Champaign-Urbana greatly defined who I am by exposing me to different people and ideas, through the University and through our independent media. Very few towns are fortunate enough to have an independent newspapers, television stations, and radio. There were opportunities of independence and free-thinking to those who sought it. In my case, I had teachers who allowed me to do projects my way on topics of my choice, and I had great support from my family to look deeper into topics that interested me.
Now, as an adult, I have chosen a career in Library Science while still keeping to my new media roots. I have been involved with bringing social tools to the library and I have written articles concerning how new media has affected scholarship. I am strongly interested in learning new technologies and discovering ways to use them to help with education. I have created 2 informative CD-ROMs. One for the Spurlock World Heritage Museum in Urbana, Illinois which teaches children different cultures by exploring games that come from that culture. The other is a piece documenting the Capital Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) from Washington, D.C.
I lived in Boca Raton, Florida for three years as the assistant university librarian/coordinator of assessment and planning at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). In early 2009 I moved to Greenville, NC to be in charge of the East Carolina University Joyner Library’s website as the Web Services Librarian. The job is very exhilarating and fun.
The beginning focus of this blog was to chronicle my work in delivering an innovative library website for Joyner Library. As the process has come closer and closer to a launch date, it’s time to change the focus of this blog closer to what the title means, how technology can excite and frustrate.
Now as the Knowledge Exchange Coordinator at the U.S. Green Building Council, I continue my work as both a librarian and a knowledge management specialist.
John Creech said,
June 11, 2009 at 4:31 pm
hi jackie. i’m john creech, systems librarian at central washington university in ellensburg, wa.
i just saw your post on the lita listserv and wanted to say … most excellent work on getting your book published. i look forward to reading it.
i am an NC native, born and raised in the raleigh area. got my BA and MLIS at chapel hill many years ago. i am familiar with “your neck of the woods” down ecu way. growing up i spent alot of time on the coast somewhat southwest of you, in cartaret county – harker’s island, core sound, beaufort, etc. after decades out west i truly miss NC.
again, congratulations on your book.
john creech