Preservation Steward
The Government Publishing Office (GPO) ceased distributing tangible titles to all Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) libraries and shifted towards electronic only, with the exception of a few titles that libraries could opt-in to receive print. These limited print distribution titles ranged from unlimited copies, to 50 copies, to 20 copies. I requested that MSU be allowed to receive two of the 20 copies only titles and my request was approved by GPO. We will continue to receive The Forest Atlas of the United States (A 13.182:) and Scientific Investigations Maps (I 19.91/3:) in print.
In early 2025, I was approached by the Chair of the FDLP’s Midwest National Collection Service Area (NCSA) and asked if MSU would consider becoming a GPO Preservation Steward for these two titles. Preservation Stewards preserve tangible copies of specific titles, Su Doc ranges, or topics to ensure that a physical copy is protected and preserved for the National Collection. For the limited print distribution titles, the goal is to have at least one Preservation Steward per title per service area.
I began discussing this possiblity with my supervisor, Kathleen, and with the Collections Strategist. While both were supportive, conversations were delayed due to the 2025 budget crisis. In May 2026, I brought this back to the Collections Strategist, and we met with GPO staff to discuss what this would entail. Susan and I drafted a proposal for the AD for Collections to bring to EC, which was well-received. GPO is in the process of drafting a Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) for us to be historic and current Preservation Stewards for The Forest Atlas of the United States and current-only Preservation Stewards for the Scientific Investigations Maps series.
Working with MSU Government Documents Staff
As the librarian for government information, I often provide assistance to MSU Libraries staff who work with and process government documents. Because government documents often have complicated issues, most of my interactions with staff are done in-person. Andrea James kindly wrote a letter to summerize our interactions and working relationship.
University of Minnesota
As part of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), the University of Minnesota is our Regional Library and they set policies and procedures that the selective FDLP libraries in Michigan, Minnesota, and South Dakota must follow. I was selected in 2023 to serve as a search committee member–representing all the selectives in this tri-state region–for the Regional Librarian position.
In June 2024, I invited our new Regional Librarian for a campus site visit to tour our government documents collection and speak with our government documents staff about our collection and pain points.
Institute of Public Utilities (IPU)
I early 2022, I was contacted by the Director of the Institute of Public Utilities (IPU) on campus to assist them with managing their library collection of government publications, grey literature, and IPU published works. I met with the director on April 6, 2022, and conducted a site visit in Owen Hall on April 8, 2022, to assess their collection. I provided guidance and recommendations related to documenting, storing, and preserving their collection, as well as weeding their library.
State Data Center
In October 2018, I organized a meeting with the State Demographer, one of his staff members and selected MSU Library staff (myself, Kathleen Weessies, and Amanda Tickner) to discuss the State Data Center (SDC) Affiliate Network, for which we are a member and I am our point person. The SDC is a network set up by the Census Bureau to link data experts in each state to support local researchers and facilitate communication with the Census Bureau. This meeting allowed us to have a conversation about what the State Data Center can do for us and our researchers, concerns about access to data, as well as discuss the upcoming 2020 Census (and the possible issues) and redesign of the Census data portal.
Following that meeting, I worked with a Populations Analyst in the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB) and the state demographer to help enhance communication within this network. To this end, the MSU Libraries began sponsoring a listserv for this network that I helped maintain for DTMB, including providing listserv training to two DTMB staff. Our support of the listserv ran from 2019-2021, at that time, DTMB set up their own listserv through the state.
The State Demographer held a focus group for SDC affiliates in 2025 and I was able to provide feedback regarding training opportunities, ways the State Demographer could increase interaction between their office and SDC affiliates, and gave an overview of the types of Census data use and how they use it.
Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP)
I often participate in the Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP), working with Political Science and Packaging students. These students are at MSU for the summer and work with assigned faculty on research projects in their areas. During these meetings with students, I provide an overview of resources at MSU and recommend search strategies and relevant resources for their projects. I have participated in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024.
MSU Surplus Store
I served on as a search committee member for the Surplus Store for a support staff role (Book Sales Assistant) in November 2024.
In 2020, I collaborated with Eric Tans and the Education Coordinator at the MSU Surplus Storeand Recycling Center on the creation of a libguide focused on environmental justice, with an emphasis on sustainable purchasing to reduce waste at the point of purchase. While the Education Coordinator and other staff at the Recycling Center were promoting this guide within their unit in Spring 2021, I was asked if the library would collaborate with IPF’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council to create a libguide on DEl issues with the intended audience being IPF staff. While the incoming Chair of the Library’s Diversity Committee declined this project, outgoing Chair Ranti Junus was happy to partner with me and IPF on this guide. Ownership of this guide was later transferred to the Library’s Diversity Committee (now CACaO).
Staff Award
As a liaison librarian, we were all awarded a Staff Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2021 for our efforts to help transition suddenly to remote-only instruction.