Meeting with Judy Spak and John Gallagher

Today I met with Judy Spak. Judy is a Curriculum Support Librarian at the Cushing/ Whitney Medical Library. Judy helps faculty use technology when teaching, and she is the Blackboard System Administrator. Judy is a liaison for the basic sciences departments. Judy went to college for a total of seven years, and she enjoyed it because she loves to learn new things.She attended Hofstra University in New York for her Bachelors degree and Southern Connecticut State University for her MLS. Judy's favorite thing about her job is working with the faculty and students because she is a real people person. A skill that someone would need to succeed in this career is the love of computers, because this type of work is electronically based. The most challenging thing about this job is trying to get everything done on the to do list, but the easiest thing is working with people. Judy has been at Yale for 15 years, and she plans on being at Yale in the future.

After meeting with Judy, I met with John Gallagher. John is the Deputy Director of Public Services at the Cushing/ Whitney Medical Library. John is a Liaison to the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. He is responsible for the physical library and he oversees construction projects in the library. John is a Personal Librarian to forty students. John's favorite thing about his job is working with the staff and students. He enjoys helping others and making sure that everyone that visits the library enjoys their time here. The most challenging thing about his job us that there is always so much to do, but never enough time. What keeps John motivated to come to work everyday is the people here at the library. John loves what he does and he would not change his job if he had the chance to. Today was a very interesting because I had the opportunity to interview two intelligent and friendly . I had a great day!

Meeting Daniel Dollar and Lei Wang

Today I met with Daniel Dollar; he is the Head of Collection Development and Management for the Cushing/ Whitney Medical Library. Daniel has helped develop the rich collection of electronic and print resources that the library offer by selecting items for purchase. Daniel has a degree in political science, and he went to college for a total of eight years. Mr. Dollar's mentor was Kim Parker, because she taught him how to do his job properly. Daniel loves his job because he likes to help people and he loves to learn about new things in the process of helping someone else. The skills that someone would need to succeed in this career is to be humble, a helping spirit, and the love of electronics. The most challenging thing about Daniel's job is managing people because you have to try to always be respectful and make sure that everyone needs are met to the best of your ability. In five years Daniel sees his career becoming completely electronic because things right now are being mostly bought online and not in print. Daniel Dollar has been in this profession for 12 years. While meeting with Daniel I had the pleasure to meet Melissa Vantine and Mary Hughes. Both of these ladies gave me a lot of information. Mary told me about the HINARI program that is for undeveloped countries, to help them access journals at reduced price or get them for free. Melissa showed me how she organizes information about the books they order or already have. I enjoyed my time with Daniel, Melissa, and Mary !

After meeting with Daniel I met with Lei Wang . Lei is the Instructional Design Librarian for the Cushing/ Whitney Medical Library. Lei helps create web-based online objects, allows students to have access to education, teaches PowerPoint classes, and does the online reference services. Lei's favorite thing about his type of work is learning and playing with new technologies. Some of the skills that someone would need to succeed in his career is media production skills, web programming, web skills, instruction skills, and be a good teacher. The most challenging things about Lei's work are online learning projects, managing time, quality of projects, and the constant change in technology. Lei has been in this type of work for five years. Today was a great day because I learned so much from Daniel, Melissa, Mary, and Lei. I am so grateful that i had the opportunity to sit down and interview them because it was so interesting.

Meeting with Lynn Sette

Today I met with Lynn Sette. Lynn is a Reference Librarian at the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library. Lynn has medical students that see her as their personal librarian. Ms. Sette also works as a library liaison, a task that matches the staff with a department, like the pediatrics department. For the Library Lynn does marketing and publicly of new resource events. The most challenging thing about her job is that technology updates constantly. Lynn likes her job because she loves to help people. Lynn has been in this job for thirty years. I enjoyed My interview with Lynn because she was so friendly and kind.

After interviewing Lynn I sat in on a meeting with Lynn and Sarah Burge. The meeting was about picking pictures from the 1600s and making a card set out of them for the Library. I learned from Sarah that in the 1600s people would copy down from one book because all books were handwritten. I learned that most Library's of that time had about four books which was considered a lot because they were handwritten. I saw beautiful Arabic pictures of animals, trees, and plants. This collection is for the Ameel Project. There are two sections already and their names are: Oasis Of the Middle East and Iraq Recollection Project. They will add the Ameel NEH Project which is these groups of pictures. I enjoyed this very much because I love art and history. So having them combined together made this experience even better.

My first day as a Chili Intern

Hi, my name is Shelby Brewer and I am the new Yale Chili Intern. Today I met with Mr.Greenberg and he gave me a tour of the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library. I have to say that it was very interesting. We visited the Reference and the Historical part of the Library. The Historical Library was my favorite part because it was so relaxing and cozy. I enjoyed looking at the old books and the paintings of John Fulton and Arnold Klebs. Mr.Greenberg introduced me to several staff members while on our tour. Those staff members were : Daniel Dollar, Jan Glover, Judy Spak, and Janen Batten.

While on my tour with Mr.Greenberg I learned a lot about the history of the Cushing / Whitney Medical Library. I learned that Dr. Harvey Cushing was the founder of the Cushing / Whitney Medical Library and that he donated the first books to the library. Dr. Cushing also convinced his friends Dr. John Fulton and Dr. Arnold Klebs to donate their medical books to the library. These three men called themselves the "Trinitarians". John Hay Whitney's spouse, the daughter of Harvey Cushing, donated money to help extend the library. He was Dr. Cushing's son-in-law. This library has so much to offer. It has an adopt a book program, personal librarians , and historical book collections. My first day as a Chili Intern was great !

Meeting with Matt/Judy/Diane (my last day)

Today I met Matt Wilcox. Matt is originally from San Diego, California and attended Asbury College in Kentucky for undergrad and the University of Illinois for his MLS. He is the Public Health Librarian and the Director of Academic Technology. He has had his current job for ten years. Other than being a librarian Matt would have possibly like to have been an English professor. His job consists of working with computer labs, students computer, and class computers. This department is the focal point for public health information. Projects that Wilcox is working on are digital library projects and the school of public health electronic thesis. A typical day for Matt is helping students find information for papers and research, meetings, and computer related things depending on the time of the year. Matt's goal is to finish up the closing of the public health library. The most challenging aspect of Matt's job is budget issues, while the easiest is simply getting paid. Matt would like for his job to be on a cruise ship, as well.

After meeting Matt Wilcox, I met Judy Spak. Judy is the Curriculum Support Librarian, and has been so for fourteen years. She attended Hofstra University in New York for her bachelors and Southern Connecticut State University for her MLS. Judy's job includes working with faculty to use technology in teaching and finding materials that are web based. Also, Judy is the Blackboard system Administrator. With Jan, Judy coordinates the Personal Librarian program. Judy is also the liaison to: cell biology, genetics, immunobiology, laboratory medicine, microbial pathogenesis, pathology, molecular biophysics and biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, physician associate program, surgery-anatomy, therapeutic radiology, and cellular and molecular physiology.

Judy had several memorable professional experiences. One experience was when students brought her chocolate chip cookies. Another was being mentioned by name in the second year program. Also, receiving a special award with Jan at the Physician Associates graduation. Receiving the Jack Cole Award and being recognized by people she has helped are other memorable professional experiences, as well.

The most challenging part of Judy's job is getting through her to do list, while the easiest part is working with very nice people. In the future, Judy plans to still be at Yale.

My day ended with meeting Diane Turner at the Sterling Memorial Library. Diane Turner is originally from Slydell, Louisiana. She attended Grambling State University for undergrad, and then Albany SUNY for her Masters in history and counseling. Diane Turner has been the Associate University Librarian for Human Resources, Organizational Development and Community Relations for eight years. The human resources aspect of the library brought her to Sterling. Diane's office is responsible for hiring, training, recruiting, and the wellness of the library. Her office also works with the school system. A day for Diane may include meetings, negotiating agreements, solving problems, developing and interpreting policies, hiring people, resolving grievances, setting salaries, and university and library committees.

Diane wants to remain active in the community. She is currently trying to raise 5.2 million dollars for the community. Also she wants to stay successful in her profession and family life. In the future Diane would like to travel abroad.

Today was my last day and it truly has been fun. I learned so much while interning and met some great and really nice people. I will forever remember each day that I spent at the Cushing library. For instance, the day that the KIRTAS machine was demonstrated to me, or attending a presentation on books dating back to the 13th century by Sarah. I will be back for the opening of Harvey Cushing's brain collection and will always be thankful for the great opportunity I was given.

Meeting with Liu Hongbin/ Mark Gentry

Today I met with Liu Hongbin. Liu is originally from China, and attended school there as well. He then went to the University of Iowa and received his MLS while there. Hongbin is the Web Services Librarian and has been so for four years. Liu does web design and managing and computing. He created the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library website and maintains it. Last year the website received more than eight million hits. Currently, Hongbin has to move web content information into the content management page and redesign the historical medical library website page, which has been the same for ten years. The most challenging thing about Liu's job is having so many things to learn, while the easiest is knowing how to do his job and talking to helpful people from different departments. One of the most memorable professional experiences Hongbin has had is the August launch of the new website, which received a message from a professor at the law school library complimenting and congratulating him on the work he had done.


After meeting with Liu Hongbin, I met with Mark Gentry. Mark is the Clinical Support Librarian and the Coordinator of Library Technology Services & Support. Mark attended Trent University for his bachelors, then UCONN for his masters in Anthropology, and finally Southern Connecticut State University for his MLS. Mark is also the internal medicine liaison. A project that Mark is currently working on is a collaboration between Yale University and the Makerere University in Uganda. He makes CDs for people going to Uganda, which contain information on several diseases, program documents, how to get access to the internet and library, and maps. In Uganda, Mark helped with technical things and did classes with librarians, as well.

Mark has made web pages for the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library. One of the web pages is PDA/Mobile Devices Resources and Information. He supports mobile devices through classes and training on them. Mark helps patrons, does trainings, troubleshoots, and tries to get systems to work. Many of Mark's most memorable professional experiences include helping someone find what they are looking for.

Meeting with Jan/Janene

Today I met with Jan. Jan in high school wanted to be a librarian and went to schools that had librarian schools. So, she received her MLS from the University of Rhode Island. Jan is now the Education Services Librarian. She organizes classes. There are three kinds of classes. One is the drop in type, which is free of charge and is scheduled monthly. Another type of class is a requested class, which is when faculty or maybe a residency program decides residents need to be taught a specific thing. The third is integrated into the curriculum. Jan teaches a lot and schedules education classes for people. She has had her current position since 1988. Jan also works with teams that are doing systematic reviews. Systematic reviews are basically a study of studies. Jan helps the team find every study that exists on a topic, which could take ten to twelve hours; its a long process. The team is trying to answer a question by looking at the literature systematically. It tends to be better to pool information and study it. There was a case where a study was done over and over again, when really if the studies had been pooled the answer would have been found after the first four studies. Since the information was not pooled and studied, a lot of unnecessary money was spent doing the experiment over and over again.

A typical day for Jan includes troubleshooting, answering emails, meetings, teaching/preparing for classes, and working on projects. One of the most challenging parts of her job is the constant change in technology. Another would be the constant need to learn new things. The easiest aspect of her job is knowing her environment and the people around her. Jan's memorable professional experiences include a conference in Beijing and another conference in Australia. Jan reviewed with me the Basic Steps for an Information Quest and How to Search, as well. I realized that I tend to skip steps when searching for information.


After I met with Jan, I met with Janene. Janene is originally from Australia. She attended the Australia Sturt College of Advanced Education. Also, Janene received her MLS from Southern Connecticut State University. Janene is the liaison to the nurses. She teaches nurses, helps students with research, questions, and reference. Janene has had her position for five years now. A typical day is usually busy for Janene. She has to respond to emails, work on projects, prepare for classes, go to meetings, and look at her calendar. The most challenging thing about Janene's job is doing everything effectively. The easiest aspect of her job is receiving questions from students that she previously answered and questions with quick answers. In the future Janene will most likely be in the same profession, except she wants to be so good at her job that when people think nursing librarian they think Janene.