WLA Member Profile: Ro McKernan
Ro McKernan
The message I seem to be getting from the universe lately has been “So it goes” and “Take life one day at a time,” which is hard for me because I tend to think ahead and run through possible scenarios more then I need too. ;-)
I lurch toward too much anxiety when I think about the economic climate in our state at the moment and what it means for academic library funding. Waiting for the “it’s OK to exhale” email, thinking it might be awhile coming yet.
WLA Connect is pleased to present WLA member profiles, starting with relatively recent members. Our very first entry features Ro McKernan. Her interview responses speak for themselves! Meet Ro:
Q. How do you like your job as Instructional/Collection Development Librarian at the Whatcom Community College Library?
A. I love my job. Despite being extremely part-time, I’ve been able to participate in a number of professional opportunities that have stretched my skills (in a good way) including teaching some basic info-lit classes, working on a grant to aid our sophomores transition to juniors in the 4-yr system and contributing to the continuing development of our website.
One of the more interesting projects I’m working on at the moment is modifying our ESL collection to better serve our students. Right now everything has the exact same call number and you can only browse randomly if you are searching for a particular item.
We are trying to determine the best way of changing that, either making it a unique collection somewhere else (like the Ref books) and giving them their own LC call number. Or leaving the step-readers (level 1, level 2 etc) shelved by levels (very skinny so not practical to add more spine label info) and then shelving the rest of the fiction/non-fiction somehow (I’ve been thinking about lexile numbers lately?).
I would love to hear from other ESL librarians or anybody out there who’s had any experience with this if they have any suggestions or advice.
Q. How long have you been a member of WLA?
A. Off and on for the past several years – I probably would never join the national associations but the regional ones (WLA, BCLA, & PNLA) have provided a lot of relevant educational and networking opportunities.
Q. How have you been personally involved in WLA?
A. A little, but not as much as I’d like to be. I self funded to the last WLA conference, but won’t be able to do that this year. I’m a member at large for RIG (reference interest group) and I would like to get more involved in the online aspects of WLA.
Q. What does WLA mean to you?
A. To me WLA represents the best opportunity to network with other state-wide librarians on issues of local pertinence. Also to collectively encourage and promote best practices in our profession and to be an advocacy leader on issues that affect librarians and library patrons across the state (such as funding and overly restrictive legislature).
Q. What is your favorite thing about libraries?
A.
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The ability to connect people with the information sources or skills that they need, when they need it, where they need it.
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To be an efficient point-of-service to our patrons online or face to face.
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The ability of librarians and libraries to facilitate the collection and distribution of ideas and conversations amongst a sometimes disparate population.
Q. What is the last book you read?
A. I’m still catching up on my backlog created by graduate school (with work, family and travel it was the leisure reading that was sacrificed). Just finished Pillars of the Earth which I really enjoyed and one of the novels nominated for a Nebula this year – The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemison, I felt was quite original. One of my favorite new authors is SG Browne – if you are ever in the mood for a rom-com-zom-com Breathers is your book (and subversive like the best of zombie lit can be).
Q. What area of the library stacks do you like to browse in for your own enjoyment?
A. Recent returns. I’m always fascinated with what other people are reading and it helps me understand our collection needs and our patrons a little more. Shiny new books also attract my attention.
Q. Where did you go to library school?
A. UBC – SLAIS. It’s a fantastic MLIS program at very reasonable rates with a strong co-op program and internship component. I focused mostly on technological issues such as online information architecture and relational databases (although I still need a lot of practice with Access…). Combined with my previous experience working in libraries I felt it did a very good job providing me with opportunities to learn a variety of librarian skills and knowledge.
Q. Do you have any children? Any pets?
A. Yes, I have one 10yr old son and a black and white cat we named Hermione. No, I haven’t gotten my son to read the Harry Potter books yet, but since he’s always existed in a post-HP world the books may have slipped into the “Books Adults Want You to Read” category (and are subsequently viewed as “less fun”). Artemis Fowl however, is the most awesome book series ever.
Q. What is your favorite spectator sport?
A. I’m not a sports person, my husband manages some fantasy baseball leagues and is the sports buff in the family – so I happily defer that whole area of knowledge to him.
Q. What is your favorite travel destination?
A. We love Las Vegas and Disneyworld. We’ve been to both places several times already and are always looking for a new excuse to go (like Harry Potter World opening up in Orlando – which, by the way, is most definitely on the best rides there.)
Q. What are your favorite foods?
A. Bread, pasta and potatoes. Anything with lots of carbs and calories unfortunately.
Q. What is your favorite leisure-time activity, or what do you do to relax?
A. Read read read. Watch TV while working out on the elliptical. Play with webdesign and online tools. Cross stitch.
Q. Is there someone you personally admire and would want to emulate?
A. I’ve been blessed with a lot of fantastic mentors in the field. The faculty librarians at WCC (Sally Sheedy, Kiki Tommila) have gone way above and beyond to make me feel welcome in my new job and they are always a font of information and knowledge. I like getting opportunities to work with new librarians, to exchange best practices and learn new skills.
Q. What are some words to live by?
A. The message I seem to be getting from the universe lately has been “So it goes” and “Take life one day at a time” which is hard for me because I tend to think ahead and run through possible scenarios more then I need too. 
I lurch toward too much anxiety when I think about the economic climate in our state at the moment and what it means for academic library funding. Waiting for the “it’s OK to exhale” email, thinking it might be awhile coming yet.
Thank you, Ro McKernan, for sharing a bit of your personality with your fellow WLA members and the rest of the world!
Tags: community colleges, members, people, profiles, Ro McKernan
