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Resume - Rachel Singer Gordon

Rachel Singer Gordon is webmaster, LISjobs.com, and consulting editor at Information Today Inc., Books Division. She is the former Head of Computer Services at the Franklin Park Public Library, IL, and currently works as a freelance writer, editor, and presenter. See a brief bio here.

Written Work

Books

Blogs

Regular Columns

Shorter Material

Presentations and Workshops

I'm available to speak to your library group or institution on multiple topics, including career building in a down economy, writing for publication, accidental library management, library career paths, "getting unstuck," alternative careers, accidental systems librarianship, and next generation librarianship and succession planning.

I also present locally on saving with coupons and other money-saving strategies.

Upcoming Presentations:

  • "Coupons 101," Franklin Park Public Library, Franklin Park, IL, Sept. 13, 2009.
  • "Coupons 101," Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook, IL, Oct. 17, 2009.

Past Presentations:

  • "Career Building in a Down Economy," Emerald Reception, ALA Annual, Chicago, IL, July 11, 2009.
  • "Coupons 101," Joliet Public Library, Joliet, IL, June 20, 2009.
  • "Writing for Publication," CHLA/ABSC Conference, Winnipeg, CANADA, May 30, 2009.
  • "The Cross-Generational Library Workforce," WLA-Support Staff Section, Madison, WI, May 20, 2009.
  • "Career Building in a Down Economy," SLA-Iowa Chapter, webinar, May 15, 2009.
  • "Library Careers (in a Down Economy)," University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, April 10, 2009.
  • "Career Building in a Down Economy," UNYSLA, Albany, NY, April 24, 2009.
  • "Innovation in Smaller Libraries" track co-moderator, Computers in Libraries, Crystal City, VA, March 30, 2009.
  • "Getting Unstuck," On the Front Lines, Springfield, IL, March 17, 2009.
  • "The Multigenerational Library Workforce," Lake Villa District Library staff development day, Lake Villa, IL, Feb. 27, 2009.
  • "Alternative Careers," The University at Buffalo Special Libraries Association, Buffalo, New York, Feb. 9, 2009.
  • "Getting Unstuck," Southern Chapter/MLA, Birmingham, AL, Thurs., Oct. 30, 2008.
  • "The Cross-Generational Workforce," Wisconsin Library Association, Middleton, WI, Wed., Nov. 5, 2008.
  • "Nontraditional Library Careers," Chicago-SLA, Chicago, IL, Monday, Nov. 10, 2008.
  • "The Cross-Generational Workforce," LLNE, Freeport, ME, Fri., April 25, 2008.
  • "Writing for Publication," FHSLA, Thurs., June 14, 2007.
  • "Writing for Publication," SEFLIN, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Fri., June 15, 2007.
  • "NextGen Librarianship: Where Do We Go from Here?" Soaring to Excellence Teleconference, College of DuPage, Friday, Feb. 9, 2007.
  • "The Accidental Library Manager," Virginia Library Association, Williamsburg, VA, Wed., Nov. 8, 2006.
  • "Writing for Publication," SLA Virtual Seminar, Tues., Nov. 7, 2006.
  • "The Cross-Generational Workforce," Bloomingdale Public Library, IL, Friday, Oct. 13, 2006.
  • "Mentoring and Developing Next Generation Librarians," Johnson County Public Library, Overland Park, KS, Fri., Sept. 22, 2006.
  • "Mentoring and Developing Next Generation Librarians," NEST, Valley Falls, KS, Thurs., Sept. 21, 2006.
  • "Your 21st Century Library Career," Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, Tues., Sept. 12, 2006.
  • "The Accidental Library Manager," preconference workshop, Montana Library Association Annual Conference, Missoula, MT, Wednesday, May 3, 2006.
  • "Your 21st Century Library Career," Montana Library Association Annual Conference, Missoula, MT, Thursday, May 4, 2006.
  • "Your 21st Century Library Career," LINC, Itasca Public Library, IL, Wed., May 10, 2006.
  • "The Cross-Generational Library Workforce," Utah Library Association Annual Conference, St. George, UT, Thurs., May 18, 2006.
  • "Writing for Info Pros," Computers in Libraries, Washington, DC, Wed., March 22, 2006.
  • "Jobs for Librarians & Info Pros," Computers in Libraries, Washington, DC, Thurs., March 23, 2006.
  • "The Accidental Systems Librarian," SirsiDynix SuperConference 2006, Nashville, TN, Tuesday, March 7, 2006.
  • "Developing Your 21st-Century Library Career," Spotlight on Your Career, Colorado Association of Law Libraries, Denver, CO, Sat., Feb. 25, 2006.
  • "The Accidental Library Manager," Cleveland Area Metro Library System, Cleveland, OH, Wed., Feb 22, 2006.
  • "The Accidental Library Manager" and "The Mouse Won't Bite," half-day workshops, Maricopa County Library Council, Phoenix, AZ, Tuesday, January 31, 2006.
  • "Writing for Publication," NSLS New Librarians Networking Group, Wheeling, IL, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005.
  • "Writing for Publication," Canadian Library Association teleconference, Wednesday, November 9, 2005. Download the handout (MS Word format).
  • "Your 21st-Century Library Career," LACONI, Mt. Prospect, IL, Thursday, November 17, 2005.
  • "Your 21st-Century Library Career," Association of Mental Health Librarians, San Diego, CA, Saturday, October 8, 2005.
  • "Nextgen Librarians and Succession Planning," Ohio Library Council Annual Conference, Columbus, OH, Thursday, October 6, 2005.
  • "The Accidental Library Manager," Fall Conference of the Border Regional Library Association and Texas Library Association - District 6, Las Cruces, NM, Saturday, September 24, 2005.
  • "Accidental Library Management," DynixInstitute virtual seminar, Wednesday, August 24, 2005.
  • "Your 21st-Century Library Career," Annual Interlibrary Loan Conference, Denver, CO, Friday, April 29, 2005.
  • "The Accidental Library Manager," New Jersey Library Association Annual Conference, Long Branch, NJ, April 12, 2005.
  • "Marketing Yourself Online," NYLA Annual Conference, Rochester, NY, October 22, 2004.
  • "LAMS Lunch With Library Leaders," NYLA Annual Conference, Rochester, NY, October 22, 2004. (Keynote on succession planning and preparing future leaders.)
  • "Your Name in Print NOW: Writing For Publication," NYLA Annual Conference, Rochester, NY, October 21, 2004.
  • "Accidental Systems Librarianship," SEFLIN (Broward County Main Library), October 8, 2004. Half-day workshop.
  • "Accidental Systems Librarianship," Computers in Libraries, Washington DC, March 12, 2004.
  • "Online Job Hunting and Staffing for Information Professionals," Computers in Libraries, Washington DC, March 13, 2004.
  • "Accidental Systems Librarianship" panel participant, Illinois Library Association annual conference, Springfield, IL, October 17, 2003.
  • "Job Hunting Online," SLA Virtual Seminar, October 8, 2003.
  • "Marketing Yourself Online," LACONI workshop, Elmwood Park Public Library, IL, May 9, 2003.
  • "Accidental Systems Librarianship," Information Today 2003 (E-Libraries track), New York, NY, May 6, 2003.
  • "The Successful 21st Century Librarian" panel participant, NMRT President's Panel, ALA Annual, Atlanta, GA, June 15, 2002.
  • I presented and led a discussion on systems librarianship at the ILA RTSF Technology User Group, Heritage Trails Library System, Shorewood, IL, February 27, 2002.
  • "Using Electronic Newsletters to Promote Your Business," presentation to small business community, Arlington Heights Public Library, IL, February 26, 2002.
  • "The Mouse Won't Bite: Teaching Internet Skills to Patrons," presentation to the Reference Association of South Suburban Librarians, IL, February 7, 2002.
  • "Electronic Newsletters: How and Why To Use Them To Promote Your Library," presentation to the North Suburban Special Librarians, IL, May 8, 2001.
  • "New Technologies, New Opportunities: Advancing Your Library Career In the Internet Age," keynote speech at the Mountains and Plains Parapros "Opportunities for Library Paraprofessionals" conference, Denver, CO, February 23, 2001.
  • "The Mouse Won't Bite: Teaching Internet Skills to Patrons," LACONI workshop for northern Illinois library staff, Des Plaines, IL, November 10, 2000.

Online Projects

Library-Related Work Experience

INFORMATION TODAY, INC. Books Division, Medford, NJ

Consulting Editor
August 2005 - present

FRANKLIN PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY, Franklin Park, IL

Librarian (part time)
Oct. 2002 - May 2005
  • Maintained web site
  • Staffed Reference Desk
  • Responsible for collection development
Head, Computer Services Department
June 1999 - Sept. 2002
  • Designed and maintained library's web site at http://www.franklinparklibrary.org
  • Wrote and won grants for upgrading library's LAN, purchasing new Internet station, and acquiring collection of ESL materials.
  • Planned, installed, and administered local NT network.
  • Planned and implemented migration from Windows NT/98 to a Windows 2000 environment.
  • Chair, consortial Automation Services Task Force, 2000-2001.
Reference/Computer Services Librarian
May 1998-May 1999
  • Created and maintained both internal web sites and printed handouts to guide users of public-access Internet terminals.
  • Organized and taught Internet training classes for patrons.
  • Maintained and organized library computer equipment and software.
Reference Librarian
September 1996-April 1998
  • Developed and maintained collection of Spanish-language materials for adults.
  • Created and led bi-monthly book discussion groups.

VILLA PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY, Villa Park, IL

Reference Librarian (part time)
May-September 1996

FOREST PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY, Forest Park, IL

Youth Services Assistant/Circulation (part time)
January-May 1996

Education

BA in religion
Carleton College, Northfield, MN
1992

MA in modern Judaism
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
1994

MLS, concentrating on Reference
Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest, IL
1996

Associations, Awards, Honors

I reviewed books for Library Journal from 1998-2008, have reviewed for Reference Reviews, am a member of the American Library Association, and former member of REFORMA, LAMA, and NMRT. Member of the NMRT Speakers Bureau Committee, 2001-2002. Member, Beta Phi Mu. Member of the Illinois Library Association, 1997-2002.

Featured in the March 2002 "Movers and Shakers" supplement to Library Journal.

Awarded a 2004 EBSCO/ALA Conference Attendance Scholarship to attend the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando.

Listed in Marquis Who's Who in America, 2007-.

Contact

E-mail (preferred): rachel@lisjobs.com

or...

PO Box 6931
Villa Park, IL 6018