Sandra J. Gekosky
15714 Fruit Farm Road, Amesville, OH 45711
(land line) 740-551-2921
[email protected]
Summary
I aspire to be a knowledgeable and approachable, professional Librarian, specializing in the arts.
My goal is to secure a position in the field of library and information science, as an academic art librarian, applying my many acquired competencies for successful reference and user services librarians, and designing services to meet the needs of the stakeholders and community.
Professional Experience
Library Support Associate. Vernon R. Alden Library, Ohio University, Athens, OH. Preservation & SE Ohio Regional Library Depository/Library Annex. I support the daily operations of the SE Ohio Regional Depository/Library Annex. Responsible for maintaining consistent access and delivery of the Library collections to Ohio University faculty and students as well as serving the OHIOlink constituency. Two current projects include a Book Traces initiative and Inventory of collection that holds 650,000+ items. Supervise the work of student workers. Full-time. June 2016 - present.
Library Technical Assistant II. West Virginia University at Parkersburg, WV. Manage and operate library circulation and reserve areas. Maintain WVU-P library website. Provide reference service and instruction to students, faculty, staff and community members. Develop instructional video tutorials. Promote library services and collections with social media. Select Library materials. Create, organize and coordinate library exhibits. Train library employees. Full-time. September 2013 – June 2016.
Library Technical Assistant I. West Virginia University at Parkersburg, WV. Supervise library during the evening shift. Provide reference service and instruction to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Promote library services and collections with social media. Assist the director of the library with collection management. Select Library materials in all subjects. Perform circulation desk duties. Manage the serials collection. Create and organize library exhibits. This was a full-time position, benefits eligible. January 2013 – September 2013.
Staff Librarian. West Virginia University at Parkersburg, WV. Provide reference service and instruction to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Supervise library during the evening shift. Developed Internet resource to promote library services. Assisted the library director with collection management. This was a part-time position non benefits eligible (32 wks/yr). January 2011 – January 2013.
Reference & Instruction Librarian: Fine Arts/Health Sciences. Vernon R. Alden Library, Ohio University, Athens, OH. Provided reference service and instruction to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Collected library materials to support ceramics, sculpture, and consumer health curricula. Assisted with art exhibits, events, displays, and programs for the library and university. Audited and maintained MedlinePlus’ Go Local, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health offering information on healthcare providers in southeastern Ohio. August 2008 - May 2009.
Librarian II. Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare. Athens, OH. I worked within the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) specializing in psychiatry, psychology, nursing, occupational therapy, and activity therapy. As a solo librarian in a special library, I was responsible for providing knowledge-based information services to ODMH clinicians, patients/consumers, college faculty, students and the community. I managed a library for the patients and a staff medical library. June 2000 - June 2008.
Designer/Artist/Art Instructor. Kaplan-Gekosky Pottery, Amesville, OH. I design and manufacture hand-thrown tableware, kitchenware, and art pottery. Routine business operations and skills include production, decorating, glazing, product research and development, clay body and glaze chemistry, operating kilns, as well as, advertising, marketing, accounting, and direct sales with customers. Lessons on the fundamentals of drawing, ceramics, and painting techniques were provided to individuals of all ages in my studio. October 1986 - June 2015.
Educational Background
Ohio University. Athens, OH. Master of Fine Arts (MFA): Art History. 2005. GPA: 3.914.
Kent State University. Kent, OH. Master of Library Science (MLS) 1999. GPA: 3.909. The School of Library and Information Science at KSU is an American Library Association accredited program.
Rutgers University. New Brunswick, NJ. Bachelor of Arts (BA): Visual Arts. 1985. GPA: 3.418.
Raritan Valley Community College. North Branch, NJ. Liberal Arts. 1982.
Continuing Education. Acquired many contact hours of library and medical related educational
activities. Details upon request.
Language
Graduate reading level French.
Professional Affiliations
American Library Association (2011-2017)
Art Libraries Society of North America (2009, 2017)
Association of College & Research Libraries (2011-2017)
Association of Mental Health Librarians (2000-2009)
Athens Art Guild (2011-2017)
Medical Library Association (2000-2009)
National Education Association (2000-2008)
Ohio Designer Craftsmen (1988-1998)
Ohio Education Association (2000-2008)
Ohio Health Sciences Library Association (2000-2009)
State Council of Professional Educators (2000-2008)
West Virginia Library Association (2013-2016)
Committees
ABH Adopt-a-School
ABH Human Services/Community meetings
ABH Information Management Committee
ABH State Agency Librarian meetings
ABH Walk for Wellness
ACRL/Arts Membership and Outreach Committee
OU Libraries Safety and Security Committee
WVLA Public Relations Committee
Volunteer and Internship Experience
Vernon R. Alden Library. Ohio University, Athens, OH. I acquired the skills needed to make repair decisions to the print collection. I cased in text blocks, repaired torn pages, tipped in loose pages, fabricated internal hinges, mended simple spine damage, created pamphlet bindings, and made match boxes.
Jan. 2010 – Dec. 2010.
Vernon R. Alden Library. Ohio University, Athens, OH. During a graduate practicum and as a volunteer, I assisted the fine arts librarian with reference service, the development of the vertical picture file, selection of monographs, processing of gifts, and circulation of reserve materials. Organized a major acquisition of 6,000+ auction house and gallery exhibition catalogs. 1995-1998.
Amesville Elementary School Library. Amesville, OH. Assignments included storytime, reference, circulation, shelving, and inventory. 1995-1996.
I aspire to be a knowledgeable and approachable, professional Librarian, specializing in the arts.
My goal is to secure a position in the field of library and information science, as an academic art librarian, applying my many acquired competencies for successful reference and user services librarians, and designing services to meet the needs of the stakeholders and community.
Professional Experience
Library Support Associate. Vernon R. Alden Library, Ohio University, Athens, OH. Preservation & SE Ohio Regional Library Depository/Library Annex. I support the daily operations of the SE Ohio Regional Depository/Library Annex. Responsible for maintaining consistent access and delivery of the Library collections to Ohio University faculty and students as well as serving the OHIOlink constituency. Two current projects include a Book Traces initiative and Inventory of collection that holds 650,000+ items. Supervise the work of student workers. Full-time. June 2016 - present.
Library Technical Assistant II. West Virginia University at Parkersburg, WV. Manage and operate library circulation and reserve areas. Maintain WVU-P library website. Provide reference service and instruction to students, faculty, staff and community members. Develop instructional video tutorials. Promote library services and collections with social media. Select Library materials. Create, organize and coordinate library exhibits. Train library employees. Full-time. September 2013 – June 2016.
Library Technical Assistant I. West Virginia University at Parkersburg, WV. Supervise library during the evening shift. Provide reference service and instruction to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Promote library services and collections with social media. Assist the director of the library with collection management. Select Library materials in all subjects. Perform circulation desk duties. Manage the serials collection. Create and organize library exhibits. This was a full-time position, benefits eligible. January 2013 – September 2013.
Staff Librarian. West Virginia University at Parkersburg, WV. Provide reference service and instruction to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Supervise library during the evening shift. Developed Internet resource to promote library services. Assisted the library director with collection management. This was a part-time position non benefits eligible (32 wks/yr). January 2011 – January 2013.
Reference & Instruction Librarian: Fine Arts/Health Sciences. Vernon R. Alden Library, Ohio University, Athens, OH. Provided reference service and instruction to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Collected library materials to support ceramics, sculpture, and consumer health curricula. Assisted with art exhibits, events, displays, and programs for the library and university. Audited and maintained MedlinePlus’ Go Local, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health offering information on healthcare providers in southeastern Ohio. August 2008 - May 2009.
Librarian II. Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare. Athens, OH. I worked within the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) specializing in psychiatry, psychology, nursing, occupational therapy, and activity therapy. As a solo librarian in a special library, I was responsible for providing knowledge-based information services to ODMH clinicians, patients/consumers, college faculty, students and the community. I managed a library for the patients and a staff medical library. June 2000 - June 2008.
Designer/Artist/Art Instructor. Kaplan-Gekosky Pottery, Amesville, OH. I design and manufacture hand-thrown tableware, kitchenware, and art pottery. Routine business operations and skills include production, decorating, glazing, product research and development, clay body and glaze chemistry, operating kilns, as well as, advertising, marketing, accounting, and direct sales with customers. Lessons on the fundamentals of drawing, ceramics, and painting techniques were provided to individuals of all ages in my studio. October 1986 - June 2015.
Educational Background
Ohio University. Athens, OH. Master of Fine Arts (MFA): Art History. 2005. GPA: 3.914.
Kent State University. Kent, OH. Master of Library Science (MLS) 1999. GPA: 3.909. The School of Library and Information Science at KSU is an American Library Association accredited program.
Rutgers University. New Brunswick, NJ. Bachelor of Arts (BA): Visual Arts. 1985. GPA: 3.418.
Raritan Valley Community College. North Branch, NJ. Liberal Arts. 1982.
Continuing Education. Acquired many contact hours of library and medical related educational
activities. Details upon request.
Language
Graduate reading level French.
Professional Affiliations
American Library Association (2011-2017)
Art Libraries Society of North America (2009, 2017)
Association of College & Research Libraries (2011-2017)
Association of Mental Health Librarians (2000-2009)
Athens Art Guild (2011-2017)
Medical Library Association (2000-2009)
National Education Association (2000-2008)
Ohio Designer Craftsmen (1988-1998)
Ohio Education Association (2000-2008)
Ohio Health Sciences Library Association (2000-2009)
State Council of Professional Educators (2000-2008)
West Virginia Library Association (2013-2016)
Committees
ABH Adopt-a-School
ABH Human Services/Community meetings
ABH Information Management Committee
ABH State Agency Librarian meetings
ABH Walk for Wellness
ACRL/Arts Membership and Outreach Committee
OU Libraries Safety and Security Committee
WVLA Public Relations Committee
Volunteer and Internship Experience
Vernon R. Alden Library. Ohio University, Athens, OH. I acquired the skills needed to make repair decisions to the print collection. I cased in text blocks, repaired torn pages, tipped in loose pages, fabricated internal hinges, mended simple spine damage, created pamphlet bindings, and made match boxes.
Jan. 2010 – Dec. 2010.
Vernon R. Alden Library. Ohio University, Athens, OH. During a graduate practicum and as a volunteer, I assisted the fine arts librarian with reference service, the development of the vertical picture file, selection of monographs, processing of gifts, and circulation of reserve materials. Organized a major acquisition of 6,000+ auction house and gallery exhibition catalogs. 1995-1998.
Amesville Elementary School Library. Amesville, OH. Assignments included storytime, reference, circulation, shelving, and inventory. 1995-1996.