I’m a librarian with experience in both academic and public libraries. My professional interests include reference & research, instruction, outreach, programming, and academic-public partnerships. My teaching and research interests include information literacy, information ecosystems, book history, and library history.
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library conference presentations
professional organization activities
Academic Library Experience
Head of Research Services, Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library, Bronxville, NY
(Previously: Research Services Coordinator and Research & Instruction Librarian)
2021 to Present
Adjunct Instruction Librarian, Fairfield University, DiMenna-Nyselius Library, Fairfield, CT
Taught sessions on library and research skills in First-Year English classes
2019 to 2021
Academic teaching Experience
Sarah Lawrence College
“Interrogating the Information Ecosystem”
Spring 2026, Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023
Fully enrolled (15 students) every semester offered
Created syllabus and co-teach 1-credit information studies course
Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies (GSLIS)
“Fundamentals of Library and Information Science”
Spring 2026; 3-credit graduate course
Teach in person from pre-existing syllabus; required course for MLIS students.
“Academic Librarianship”
Fall 2024; ; 3-credit graduate course
Taught in person; created syllabus
Afghan Female Student Outreach (AFSO)
“Introduction to Academic Research”
Winter 2026, Fall 2025, Summer 2025
Teach 8-week synchronous online course on academic research to young women in Afghanistan who are barred from pursuing higher education at home. The course was designed to prepare them to pursue online college degrees or attend universities abroad. More about AFSO here.
Library Conference Presentations
“Interrogating the Information Ecosystem: Librarians Teaching Undergraduates”
ACRL/ENY Annual Conference, Librarians in the Modern Information Ecosystem
May 21, 2025, University of Albany (SUNY)
“Yonkers IB Day: A Decades-Old, Cross-Institution Information Literacy Program”
LOEX Conference: Crafting a Future for Information Literacy
May 16, 2025, Pasadena, CA
“Yonkers IB Day: A Decades-Old, Cross-Institution Information Literacy Program”
Lead the Way Conference
April 21, 2025, Madison, WI
Slides: see above
“Adult Services Meetup”
Connecticut Library Association Annual Conference, May 2022
“Food in the Library” (Discussion Facilitator)
Led a discussion on the ways libraries can incorporate food into library programs to engage the community
New England Library Association Annual Conference, October 2019
“Revitalizing Reference and Instruction”
New England Library Association Annual Conference, October 2019
“Revitalizing Reference: Ways to Invigorate a Core Library Service”
Connecticut Library Association Annual Conference, April 2019
professional organization activities
Donald G. Davis Award Committee Member, ALA Library History Roundtable (LHRT)
2025-2026
Phyllis Dain Library History Dissertation Award Committee Member, ALA LHRT
2024-2025
Symposium Programming Committee, ACRL/NY
2023
Programming Advisory Committee, Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO)
2022-2023
Reference and Adult Services Section Co-Chair, Executive Board, Connecticut Library Association (CLA)
2021-2023
Click here for a list of programs held for librarians through this section.
Membership Committee, Member, New England Library Association (NELA)
2020-2022
Reference and Instruction Roundtable, Co-Founder & Co-Chair, Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC)
2018-2021
Click here for a list of programs held for librarians through this roundtable.
Communication and Teaching at the Point of Need Committee
Reference and User Services Association, Reference Services Section (RUSA/RSS)
Member, 2018 to 2019
Current Member: ALA, ACRL, LHRT, LIRT, ACRL/NY
Public Library Experience
Substitute Reference Librarian
Westport Library, Westport, CT, 2021 to 2024
Head of Adult Services
Brookfield Library, Brookfield, CT, 2020 to 2021
Branch Manager
West Haven Library, Ora Mason Branch, West Haven, CT, 2019 to 2020
Adult Services Librarian
Ridgefield Library, Ridgefield, CT, 2016 to 2019
programs for librarians
Click here for a list of programs held for librarians as co-founder and co-chair of the Reference and Instruction Roundtable through the Connecticut Library Consortium, 2018-2021.
Click here for a list of programs held for librarians as co-chair of the Reference and Adult Services Section of the Connecticut Library Association, 2022.
programs for patrons
I have planned, implemented, hosted, and evaluated numerous programs for public and academic library audiences. Below are just a few examples.
Misinformation: A Panel Discussion
October 2024: Organized a panel discussion with a journalist, a media researcher, and two academics on the problem of misinformation, especially in light of the 2024 presidential election. Part of a larger campus-wide series on polarization.
Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon
Held at the Sarah Lawrence College Library, March 2023 and April 2022
Voting During a Pandemic
October 2020: I moderated a discussion with Brookfield, CT election officials (Town Clerk and Registrars of Voters) on how they were ensuring election integrity and safety during the very unusual 2020 election day
Book Clubs
I have led the following book clubs for patrons. I have also led several one-time book club discussions for patrons.
Brookfield Reads, Brookfield Library (2020-2021): Literary fiction book club for adults
Food for Thought, Ridegfield Library (2017-2020): Books on food
A comprehensive list of programs for library patrons — COMING SOON —
instruction
Academic Libraries:
Class Sessions:
Research Basics for First-Year Students (offered to all first-year students in their first-year seminar)
In-class sessions on subject-specific research and resources
Workshops:
Academic Integrity and Citation
Catalog Searching
Citation Help Drop In
Database Searching
Database Searching – Advanced
Historical Newspapers
Research After Graduation
Understanding and Using Google Scholar
Understanding and Using Wikipedia
Public Libraries:
Microsoft Word for Seniors
Starting a Blog in WordPress
Where to Find Recipes Online
Education
MLIS, University of California, Los Angeles, 2008
BA, Barnard College, 1994
rachel leff 