Speakers
Amanda Smithfield has been a librarian for 13 years and is currently the librarian at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet, as well as a library coach for Metro Nashville Public Schools, where she helps facilitate social media use by district librarians. She is a 2016 Library Journal Mover & Shaker. In her spare time, you’ll find her on her patio, book in one hand and smartphone in the other! @asmithfield.
Bob Gradeck manages the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center at the University of Pittsburgh’s University Center for Urban and Social Research. Bob also takes the lead role in building relationships with data publishers and users and is also responsible for Data Center community engagement efforts. Since 2009, Bob has worked at the University Center, where he managed the Pittsburgh Neighborhood and Community Information System, contributed to a number of Center research efforts and outreach projects, and helped to launch the Southwestern Pennsylvania Community Profiles. Bob serves on the Executive Committee for the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership and also was the first organizer for Open Pittsburgh, the region’s Code for America Brigade. @bobgradeck.
Bonnie Tijerina was fellow and is now a researcher at Data & Society, a research institute focused on social, cultural, and ethical issues arising from data-centric technological development. There she focuses on research library support in big data research and online privacy education in libraries. Bonnie has worked in electronic resource management and leadership positions in libraries for more than ten years, most recently as the head of electronic resources and serials at Harvard University. Bonnie has written and presented on new roles for librarians and the ways libraries can support their communities in the digital world. She is founder and president of ER&L (Electronic Resources & Libraries) conference. @bonlth.
Brian Bannon has served as the Chicago Public Library (CPL) commissioner since March 2012. As the chief executive officer, he is responsible for the 80 libraries that serve Chicago’s 2.6 million residents. With more than 11 million visitors in 2013, CPL is the largest and most visited civic institution in Chicago and is among the largest public library systems in the United States. Prior to this role, Bannon held a variety of leadership positions within the San Francisco Public Library, Seattle Public Library and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bannon is active in work related to information access, public technology, and the digital divide. He earned his bachelor of arts from Pacific Lutheran University and a master of library and information science from the University of Washington iSchool. @bbannon.
Chris Barr joined Knight Foundation in July 2012. He manages the Prototype Fund, a program dedicated to research and development for early-stage media and information projects. With a background in design and new media, Barr previously served as an assistant professor of graphic design at West Virginia University. He has worked as a designer for a variety of organizations to combine technology development and design thinking. Barr holds a Master of Fine Arts in media study from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a bachelor’s degree in fine art from West Virginia University. @heychrisbarr.
Christina Vercelletto is School Library Journal‘s news editor. An award-winning writer and editor, Vercelletto has held staff positions at Babytalk, Parenting, Scholastic Parent & Child, and NYMetroParents.com.
Christine Leonard works on all things education at littleBits. She has the distinct privilege of watching students and educators alike increase their creative and technical confidence through the power of STEAM & invention. When she’s not in the office, she’s helping her nieces and nephews with their contraptions. @cr_leonard.
Colleen Theisen is the special collections outreach & engagement librarian at the University of Iowa Libraries, where she coordinates social media, including a Tumblr named “New and Notable” by Tumblr in 2013 and a YouTube channel, “Staxpeditions.” She started her career as a high school teacher and completed her master’s of science in information in 2011 at the University of Michigan School of Information. In 2015 she was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker. @libralthinking.
Dan Sinker is the director of OpenNews as well as a journalist, entrepreneur, and maker based out of Chicago. He has been involved in the OpenNews project since its founding year in 2011 and has evolved the project into what it is today. Prior to OpenNews, Dan taught digital journalism at Columbia College Chicago, was a Knight Fellow at Stanford University, and founded and ran the magazine Punk Planet. The author of two books and the maintainer of countless side projects, he runs a regular role-playing game night for nine-year-olds. @dansinker.
Daniel Ng was originally born in San Francisco California, but relocated with his family to the East Bay City of Fremont, California at the age of six. After graduating from high school, Daniel attended the University of California, Irvine from 1999 to 2003 and graduated with a double major in Psychology and English. During this time, Daniel worked as a student assistant at the University of California, Irvine Langson Library’s circulation desk from 2000 to 2003. After completing his undergraduate studies, Daniel relocated back to the Bay Area and then entered the San Jose State’s Masters in Library Information program in 2007 and completed the program in 2012. After completing the program, Daniel accepted the position of Adult Programming Librarian for the Fresno County Library in September 2015.
Daryl Grabarek is senior editor, Book Review, and editor, Curriculum Connections, for School Library Journal. @dgrabarek.
Eleanor Tutt is the open data and knowledge manager at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. By opening library data, connecting library measures to community impacts, and supporting residents as they build their skills and confidence using data in the civic realm, she hopes to contribute to a more equitable and accessible open data space. Eleanor joined the public library world after serving as a data analyst and mapmaker for a regional community development nonprofit in St. Louis.
Emily Bell is a research librarian at Harvard University Library specializing in virtual reference. She was one of the first graduates of Harvard Library’s Copyright First Responders program. Through her teaching and outreach, Bell has expanded the understanding of copyright law among Harvard faculty, students, and staff. Bell was previously a librarian at the Boston Medical Library Branch at the Massachusetts Medical Society and a reference and access services assistant at the Countway Library of Medicine. She holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and an MSLIS from Simmons.
Erica Findley is a passionate library supporter and is influential in the broader library advocacy ecosystem. Ms. Findley is the Cataloging/Metadata Librarian at Multnomah County Library (OR) and is a 2008 MLS graduate from Emporia State University. She is an active member of the American Library Association where she is an at-large councilor and serves on the ALCTS Leadership Development Committee. Ms. Findley is a co-convener of the ALA Think Tank and regularly hosts “pop-up libraries” when traveling by train or plane. Ms. Findley can be found online at www.ericafindley.com. @efindley.
Dr. Gary Shaffer is the chief executive officer of the Tulsa City-County Library, a 24-location library system with over 401 employees located in Northeastern Oklahoma. Prior to coming to Tulsa Gary served with the Brooklyn, Los Angeles County and Sacramento Public Libraries. In 2006, he was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker. In addition to holding a doctorate in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions from Simmons College in Boston, he possesses a Master in Library and Information Science from the Pratt Institute in New York City. Gary is also a graduate of the Urban Libraries Council Executive Leadership Institute. His doctoral dissertation was titled: Leading Through Triple Bottom Line Sustainability: Five Companies Show Public Libraries the Way. He previously served on the board of the Public Library Association and on ALA Council. Prior to working in libraries, Gary supervised large accounts for various advertising agencies.
Gretchen Caserotti is the library director at Meridian Library District in the fast-growing suburb of Boise, ID. Formerly the assistant director for public services at Darien Library (CT), she developed a national reputation for innovative and technology-driven projects and was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker in 2010. She began her career as a children’s librarian at New York Public Library. Her interest in design and usability principles was developed while she completed the MLIS program at Pratt Institute in New York City. @gcaserotti.
Jamie Dickinson has been the Director of Library Relations for BiblioBoard for the last 2 years and has been focused on helping libraries engage their local creative communities. Prior to coming to BiblioBoard, Jamie worked in independent publishing with Amazon.com for 10 years. He’s well-positioned to help libraries interested in working with local authors. @libraryself_e
Jessica Ralli is early literacy programs coordinator at Brooklyn Public Library. She received her MA in Early Childhood Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, specializing in play-based, emergent, and inclusive curriculum development for toddlers and preschoolers. As a museum educator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she helped develop and implement hands-on, experiential learning programs for children and adults with disabilities. Jessica currently coordinates grant-funded Early Literacy Programs at Brooklyn Public Library, including their popular Ready, Set, Kindergarten! program for preschoolers. @JessicaEarlyLit.
Jim Petersen is the Chief Revenue Officer of Library Ideas, LLC, a position he has held from the company’s inception. He has lead and directed sales and marketing groups in the library market for more than 20 years. Jim resides in the Chicago area with his wife and two teenage children.
Joe J. Marquez is the User Experience and Social Sciences Librarian at the Reed College Library. He has presented and written on service design, UX tools, library space assessment, website usability, and marketing of the library. Recently, he coauthored a LITA guide on library service design with Annie Downey. Joe is the principal researcher on a multidepartment project to assess how students use and experience various academic support services on the Reed College campus. He has an MLIS from the University of Washington iSchool and an MBA from Portland State University. @joughm.
Dr. Julie Keane is director of research and evaluation at VIF International Education. She leads research and evaluation of all VIF programs. From 1993 to 2004, Dr. Keane was associate project director at the Center for Children and Technology, EDC, Inc. in New York. She has conducted research and evaluation examining STEM curriculum initiatives, including analysis of international, federal, and state education policy, professional development, and teacher education programs. She holds a PhD in education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s in political science from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
Julie Lindsay is a global collaboration consultant, innovator, “teacherpreneur,” and author. She is currently a quality learning and teaching leader (online) and an adjunct lecturer for the Faculty of Arts and Education, Charles Sturt University, Australia. For 15 years she worked as an education leader in digital technology, online learning, and curriculum across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. As founder and CEO of Flat Connections, she designs and manages online projects for all K–12 levels and customizes learning experiences for educators, including virtual courses and live events. She has presented keynotes and workshops at conferences around the world. @julielindsay.
Karen Jensen is the creator and administrator of Teen Librarian Toolbox, a School Library Journal networked blog. She is also the YA services coordinator at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County (OH). She has been serving teens in libraries for 22 years. @tlt16.
Kathy Ishizuka is the Executive Editor of School Library Journal. @kishizuka.
Kendra Laine Perkins is the head librarian & extended essay co-coordinator at YK Pao Secondary School, a nonprofit private international school. She was elected to be coordinator for the Shanghai Librarians Network (SLN), which is a community of more than 80 library professionals from more than 20 schools. She is completing the ALA accredited Masters in Library and Information Studies program at the University of Alberta. She is the ambassador of China for the International Librarians Network. She loves to present her ideas, keep up with the latest technology trends, and meet new people. @kendraperk1.
Kris Johnson is the manager of a large public services department at the MSU Bozeman Library. Her department covers everything from circulation and building management to reference, research, and instructional services. Kris’s mission is to integrate physical and digital library services into a consistent, united front, presenting the library as a cohesive unit to all its constituents. Service design is of particular interest to her, and she has recently written a chapter on applying service design principles to a building design or redesign project. @askkrisjohnson.
Kyle K. Courtney is both lawyer and librarian, serving as the copyright advisor for Harvard University, working out of the Office for Scholarly Communication. He works closely with Harvard Library to establish a culture of shared understanding of copyright issues among Harvard staff, faculty, and students. His “Harvard Copyright First Responders” initiative was profiled in Library Journal in August 2013, and he was named a 2015 Library Journal Mover & Shaker. His latest book is MOOCs & Libraries, (Rowman & Littlefield). @KyleKCourtney.
Kyley Caldwell has been working in the academic publishing industry for seven years in various sales roles. With a master’s degree in English and Women & Gender Studies from Brandeis University, Kyley is especially motivated by the company’s moto of “making silent voices heard.” Combining what she’s learned during her time in academia, behind a library circulation desk, and in the publishing industry, she helps libraries navigate the ever-changing landscape of electronic resources and streaming video.
Dr. Lakisha Brinson is a 13-year veteran who is a recognized instructor in the field of library science. Her passion for teaching and learning has afforded her a plethora of experiences and accolades including Teacher of the Year, STEM Instructional Designer, and 2015 School Library Journal National Librarian of the Year Finalist. A skilled and well-informed tech guru, she has facilitated professional development experiences for educators nationally and within her local district. An avid reader and student, she researches and stays current on new and innovative educational technologies in an effort to provide the best instructional practices possible for her students. @lakishabrinson.
Lisa Lindsay, a graduate of Simmons College GSLIS, has been a public librarian for over a decade. She is currently a principal librarian with Fresno County Public Library where she oversees the Community Service Division.
Lisa Peet is the associate editor of news for Library Journal. @lisapeet1.
Manoush Zomorodi, Host of WNYC’s Note to Self, the tech show about being human, and author of Bored and Brilliant: Rediscovering the Lost Art of Spacing Out (St. Martin’s, 2017). She has won numerous awards for her work including four from the New York Press Club. In 2014, the Alliance for Women in Media named her Outstanding Host. Prior to New York Public Radio, Manoush reported and produced around the world for BBC News and Thomson Reuters.
Matt Enis is the senior editor of technology for Library Journal. @matthewenis.
Meredith Schwartz is the executive editor for Library Journal. @Kalendaries.
Nicholas Carr writes about technology and culture. His new book, Utopia Is Creepy (W. W. Norton, 2016), collects his best essays, blog posts, and other writings from the past dozen years, providing an alternative history of our tech-besotted time. “This highly browsable collection will hold great appeal for anyone interested in the social aspects of technology, from tech lovers to pre-Internet nostalgists.” –Library Journal @roughtype. Photo credit: Scott Keneally
Nick Grove is a digital services librarian for the Meridian Library District and the lead at unBound, Meridian’s new technology library, taking unBound from an idea to opening in eight months. Nick was honored to be named a Library Journal 2016 Mover & Shaker. Nick enjoys playing around with any new technology he can get his hands on. @nickgrove15.
Nicole Neditch brings her experience working in local government, digital technology, and community development to Code for America, where she serves as the Senior Director of Community Engagement. She oversees the organization’s key objective to grow and support an active network of individuals, organizations, and government partners who are working together to make government work in the 21st century. Nicole came to Code for America from the City of Oakland, where she worked for the City Administrator on initiatives related to open government, service design, and public participation. Prior to that, she was a web developer and a community evangelist dedicated to increasing economic opportunities for artists in the Bay Area. @nneditch.
Patrick Sweeney is a tireless and innovative advocate for libraries. A 2007 graduate of the San Jose School of Library and Information Sciences, Patrick is the former administrative librarian of the Sunnyvale (CA) Public Library and was executive director of EveryLibrary California, a statewide initiative to support library Propositions. Currently, he is political director at EveryLibrary, the nation’s first Political Action Committee for libraries, where he helps libraries win elections and politically organize. @pcsweeney.
Rachel Payne is the coordinator of early childhood services at Brooklyn Public Library. She was contributor to Reading with Babies, Toddlers and Twos: A Guide to Laughing, Learning and Growing Together Through Books (Sourcebooks, 2013) and Library Services Birth to Five: Delivering the Best Start (Facet, 2015). She reviews children’s books for Kirkus and writes about early literacy for School Library Journal. She chaired the 2016 Caldecott Award Committee. She serves on the Advisory Boards of Reach Out and Read of Greater and NYC’s Infant Toddler Technical Resource Center.
Raymond Pun is the first year student success librarian in California State University in Fresno. In this role, he is charged to create the first year information literacy program and collaborate with campus and community partners to support first year students. He has presented widely in conferences such as ALA, SLA, IFLA, and the American Historical Association Annual Meeting. His work has appeared in many publications such as the Huffington Post, Library Hi Tech, Reference Services Review, and Library Trends. His professional and research interests include gamification and emerging technologies in libraries, community engagement, data management, and digital scholarship services. @oboro85.
Rebecca T. Miller is the editorial director of Library Journal and School Library Journal. @MillerRT.
Richard Romano is a writer and analyst for the graphic communications industry and a regular contributor to WhatTheyThink.com, as well as Wide Format & Signage, Printing News, and Inkjet’s Age magazines, and the SGIA Journal. He is also the author or coauthor of more than a half dozen or so books, the most recent being a collection of essays and blogposts called Printing Links: History, Science, Technology, and the Graphic Arts. He has also covered the emergence and development of ebooks since 1999 and has written the Library Journal and School Library Journal ebook usage reports since their launch in 2010.
Sarah Bayliss is an associate editor of news and features for School Library Journal. @shbayliss.
Scott W. H. Young is a digital initiatives librarian at Montana State University’s Bozeman Library. His research interests include user experience of the web, research data ethics, and social media community building. He holds an MLIS from Long Island University and an MA in Public History and Archives from NYU, where he published his master’s thesis online as an open access digital exhibition. @hei_scott.
Stacey Watson is the Collection Services Manager at Denver Public Library where she oversees Collection Development, Technical Services, and Interlibrary Loan. @stcy.
Sue Kowalski is the librarian at Pine Grove Middle School, part of the East Syracuse Minoa (NY) School District. She is passionate about empowering students to LEAD and has continued to transform the library iStaff program as an effective infrastructure for student leadership. Pine Grove MS Library received the AASL National School Library Program of the Year in 2012, and Kowalski received “I Love My Librarian” honors from ALA/Carnegie Foundation. Kowalski advocates through action (and carries a bullhorn) by stepping up to leadership roles through writing, and speaking and through professional organizations such as NYLA, NYLA-SSL, AASL, ALA, and multiple other committees and projects. @spkowalski and @pinegrovelib.
Toby Greenwalt is the director of digital strategy and technology Integration at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, where he works to match new models for virtual service with robust, flexible IT infrastructure. In addition to providing strategic guidance for CLP, Toby serves on the advisory committee for ALA’s Center for the Future of Libraries. He blogs all too seldom at theanalogdivide.com and tweets too frequently @theanalogdivide.
Toni Olivieri-Barton is a library technology educator at Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs. In her 20-year teaching career she has been a library media specialist and international baccalaureate coordinator, and a technology coordinator in an international school and has assisted school districts with staff development. Toni holds a master’s in curriculum and instruction from the University of Colorado and is a Flat Classroom certified teacher, Edmodo ambassador and certified trainer, and Graphite certified educator.