The role of librarians has evolved so much over the years. Maybe they used to just shelve and help student’s find books, but these days a librarian needs to be involved with everything that goes into, and out of a library.

Cambridge University Press decided to reward that work with a new award on innovation by an early career librarian last year and we are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2019 award – Bree Kirsch, from Briar Cliff University.

Bree earned her MLIS in 2009 from Dominican University and has devoted herself since to enriching the community by hard work and organizational proficiency.  During her time at University of South Carolina Upstate, Bree helped to develop, organize and lead the Transforming Librarians Through Technology conference. The event engaged academic, public and school librarians from the surrounding area and fostered partnerships and innovation at all of the participating institutions. While at Upstate, Bree also published the LITA Guide to No- or Low-Cost Technology Tools for Libraries, which offers practical advice for using innovative technologies for assessment, creation and collaboration in all library types to enhance active learning.

But more than anything, Bree has shown a commitment and willingness to invest into the librarian community with her time and effort. We asked Bree a few questions to get to know her better:

QUESTION:You’ve developed, organized and managed the Transforming Librarians Through Technology conference. What’s the most challenging part or putting on a conference?

BREE: It was fairly challenging trying to achieve a good balance of speakers with a cross-section of diverse topics and experiences. Some of the planning logistics were also challenging, such as dealing with the registration fees and ordering lunches since so many people have different dietary restrictions.

QUESTION: You also published The LITA Guide to No- or Low-Cost Technology Tools for Libraries, do you have any advice for other librarians looking to publish?

BREE: If you have an idea for a librarian book, then look at publisher websites, like Rowman & Littlefield or McFarland and look for the author submission requirements. Usually they will be listed on their website and then you can write up a book proposal to submit. Or if you are able to attend professional conference, you can always talk to the publishers there and see if they would be interested in your submitting a book proposal on your topic. Publishers tend to be very open to new ideas, especially if there hasn’t been a new title recently published on your topic.

QUESTION: Your nomination highlighted your work with VR technology to engage with students. What has this experience taught you about technology adoption?

BREE: I think it’s important to offer students exposure to new technologies to better prepare them for possible future careers in technology and improve digital literacy. While it is not financially feasible to purchase every new technology, it can be affordable to purchase technologies that become more mainstream, such as the Oculus Go.

QUESTION: As a conference attendee, you’ve also presented on several different topics at meetings. Is public speaking something you’re fond of?

BREE: I wouldn’t say I’m fond of public speaking, but I do think it’s important to share our knowledge with each other to improve library services. I present at conferences in order to share what I’ve learned with other librarians as well as learning from what other librarians are doing at their own institutions.

QUESTION: You used to work in South Carolina and you’re currently located In Iowa. What’s the biggest difference you’ve found when you made your move from the Southeast to the Midwest?

BREE: There are no waffle houses in Iowa, but we do have Perkins! The cultures are a little different, but I have yet to meet a mean librarian, no matter which state I’ve lived in. I’m from the Chicago suburbs originally, so I’m used to the Midwest culture.

QUESTION: How/why did you begin thinking about being a librarian?

BREE: As an undergraduate at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, I worked at the periodicals desk and really enjoyed helping students finding articles. Then I spent two years as a zookeeper and found out that I didn’t want to do that forever, so I thought about what I enjoyed and my undergraduate experience and decided librarianship was for me. I’ve loved being an academic librarian.

QUESTION: What continuing education are you currently participating in/taking?

BREE: Currently I am working on a second master’s degree in education focused on educational technology. I think this degree will help me be able to offer more instructional support for our online and distance education students.

QUESTION: What is the greatest reward of being a librarian?

BREE: To me, the greatest reward of being a librarian is helping teach students to become self-sufficient researchers and better problem-solvers.

QUESTION: What is your philosophy towards your work?

BREE: I wrote an article in NMRT’s Endnotes after 2 years as a librarian about How to Become an Essential Librarian. Many of the points I discussed are still valid today, and I’d like to touch on them as my work philosophy. First, I think it is important to find a mentor, whether it be someone where I work or a librarian at another institution who I can bounce ideas around with and gain another perspective. Second, it is important to read the literature and keep up with library trends in order to improve library services. As an academic librarian, it is vital to collaborate with others including other library faculty and staff, faculty across campus, and students as well as administration. Collaboration will improve library projects and endeavors since multiple perspectives will be involved and knowledge shared. It is also important to adapt in generalizing and specializing in librarianship. These may seem to be opposites, but they are only opposites of the same coin in that a librarian should be versatile enough to adapt to what is needed but specialize and become an expert in certain areas of librarianship. I am now a University Librarian at a small university allowing me to be both a leader or supervisor and a librarian responsible for teaching, collection management, e-resources, etc. My move into a leadership role ties into my next point of the importance of becoming a library leader. This doesn’t have to be a move into a supervisory role, but rather to be innovative and proactive and take the lead on projects or undertakings in the library. Finally, I think it is important to be persistent and avoid burnout. I avoid burnout by revitalizing my career by trying something new or beginning a project. Sometimes this involves attending conferences or writing a book. These six points have helped me become the innovative librarian I am today, and I hope to be tomorrow.

QUESTION: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you have and why?

BREE: Since you say 3 things, I won’t list my husband and dog. Unlimited taco bar so we can eat, a self-cleaning porta potty with unlimited toilet paper for obvious reasons, and a glamping tent to live in style and be protected from the sun.

QUESTION: What is your favorite palindrome?

BREE: I’ll go with the sentimental response and say mom and dad are tied since my parents are amazing and always supportive.

QUESTION: What are the titles of the last three books you have read?

BREE: How Learning Works: 7 Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching by Marie K. Norman, Marsha C. Lovett, Michael W. Bridges, Michele DiPietro, and Susan A. Ambrose

Teaching Online; A Practical Guide (4^th) by Ko and Rossen

Designing Effective Instruction (7^th Ed.) by Morrison,