OFFICE ADDRESS

Wallace E. Mason Library
Keene State College
229 Main St.
Keene, NH 03435-3201
Office: (603) 358-2713
e-mail: pobrien@keene.edu

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Birthdate: April 20, 1958
Place of Birth: Ontario, California
Citizenship: U.S.

EDUCATION

Spring 1993
Legal Bibliography course
SUNY at Albany

Sept. 1987 to Aug. 1991
M.A. Religious Studies
Indiana University

Jan. 1983 to May 1984
M.L.S. Library Science
SUNY at Albany

Sept. 1976 to May 1980
B.A. Religious Studies
LeMoyne College

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

February 2009 to present
Head of Technical Services, Associate Professor
Wallace E. Mason Library, Keene State College
Duties: Manages cataloging processes by performing original cataloging and complex copy cataloging, working with a wide variety of materials, and coordinating other cataloging responsibilities as needed, including authority control, database maintenance projects, special projects, etc.; Monitors the quality of copy cataloging as performed by library services supervisors and the quality of cataloging-related work as performed by other library staff and student assistants; Develops and implements policies and procedures for technical services departments; Supervises the staff in technical services departments including hiring, performance evaluations and training.

July 1990 to June 1996
Reference Librarian, Coordinator of User Education & Electronic Reference,
Associate Professor (promoted and tenured, April 1994)
Wallace E. Mason Library, Keene State College.
Duties include those listed for Aug. 1988 to June 1990 (minus supervise circulation personnel), plus the following: Create and update library WWW site, select CD-ROM databases and online services for subscription, train staff in use of electronic reference services, collect and analyze statistics for CD-ROM, DIALOG, OCLC/EPIC, and FirstSearch database usage, assist systems librarian in automation of public services, including LAN setup and maintenance, troubleshoot software problems, provide one-on-one Internet training and informal Internet demonstrations for faculty, staff, and students, develop and teach workshops in formal Internet training program. Discipline liaisons and collection development areas reduced to Political Science and Music.

Aug. 1988 to June 1990
Reference Librarian, Coordinator of User Education, Assistant Professor
Wallace E. Mason Library, Keene State College.
Duties: Assist library users in all aspects of information retrieval (both manual and online), referral services, and instruction in the use of library resources; teach majority of basic library research classes, develop user education program, teach 2-credit library research course, produce annotated bibliographies and other library use guides, supervise reference assistants, serve as liaison to and develop collection for disciplines including Political Science, Human Services, Physical Education, Music, Theatre Arts, Speech, and Film; supervise circulation personnel, edit library newsletter, administer tri-annual library survey, maintain Information (vertical) file.

Feb. 1988 to June 1988
Assistant Reference Librarian (Evening),
Library, State University of New York College of Technology, Marcy, New York.
Duties: Provide reference and information assistance, supervise circulation staff.

Sept. 1987 to May 1988
Reference Assistant,
Burke Library, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York.
Duties: Provide reference and information assistance, participate in library instruction program, conduct online literature searches, contribute to collection development, produce annotated bibliographies and other library use guides.

Sept. 1986 to May 1987
Research Assistant to Area Specialist in History and Religious Studies,
Main Library, Indiana University.
Duties: Select monographs and serials, assist in preparing for Religious Studies class tours, compile subject bibliographies, process gift collection, assess library holdings in Eastern Religions.

July 1984 to July 1986
Assistant Librarian in Media,
Alumnae Library, Elms College, Chicopee, Massachusetts.
Duties: Advise students and faculty in use of appropriate nonprint materials, develop software collection, catalog audio-visual materials, provide bibliographic instruction, teach one-credit course on audio-visual production, assist in implementing library network, produce subject bibliographies, process software orders.

ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS

American Library Association
Association of College Research Libraries/New England Chapter
Keene State College Education Association
National Education Association

THESIS

O'Brien, P. (1991). Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Alfred North Whitehead : their philosophies and contributions to process christology, Unpublished Master's Thesis, Indiana University.

PRESENTATIONS

Presentation to NHCUC Libraries committee, “Mason Library Assessment Plan”, Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery, KSC, May 4, 2009.

Presentation, "Electronic Curriculum Proposal Process at Keene State College," Mason Library, August 20, 2003.

Presentation, "Internet Training for Academic Library Users," New Hampshire Library Association, Reference and Adult Services program, Rivier College, Nashua NH, June 12, 1998.

Three Professional Enrichment Program sessions for KSC faculty and staff, Keene State College, "Valuable Web Resources for the Sciences, Arts & Humanities, & Professional Studies," May 15, 1997.

Taught course for Cheshire Academy for Lifelong Learning, "African-American Music, 1920-1970", March-April 1995.

Presentation, "Humanities on the World Wide Web", New Hampshire Library Association, Reference and Adult Services program held at Keene State College, June 9, 1995.

Moderator, roundtable discussion on the information superhighway at New Hampshire Library Association annual conference in Manchester, NH, May 10, 1994.

Presentation, "Internet Workshop for Librarians: Basic Tools," University of Massachusetts at Amherst, October 9, 1993.

Guest lecturer on "Internet: Present and Future Access" for KSC CS 495 (Computer Science Seminar), April 13, 1993.

Presentation, "Internet Workshop for Faculty," sponsored by the New Hampshire College & University Council Faculty Development Committee, St Anselm's College, Manchester, NH, April 2, 1993.

Guest lecturer on "The State of CD-ROM in Today's Libraries" for College for Lifelong Learning LIBR 550 (Reference course), March 9, 1993.

Guest lecturer on the Internet for KSC CS 450 (Telecommunications), February 24, 1993.

Presentation, "Introduction to the Internet," New England Bibliographic Instruction Interest Group of the Association of College and Research Libraries, New England Chapter, Keene State College, January 8, 1993.

Taught Elder Hostel course, "History of African-American Music," Keene State College, July 26-August 1, 1992.

Presentation, an introduction to Keene-Link (online catalog) and Internet resources for KSC Operating Staff on Founder's Day, May 12, 1992.

Presentation, "A Venture Into the Virtual Library," for the Technology Integration and Networking Committee, Keene State College, April 1, 1992 (with Marilyn Hanley).

Modified version of the same presentation given to interested faculty and staff, April 24, 1992, and as one of the workshops during "Faculty Week," May 7, 1992.

Radio interview, concerning Keene-Link, electronic research, and Reference at the Mason Library, WKNE radio's "Viewpoint" program, April 8, 1992.

Presentation, "Ethics and the Campus Honor System," for incoming first-year students at Extended Orientation, Keene State College, Sept. 2, 1991 (with Peggie Partello).