One of our greatest joys at WiLS is hearing our members tell the stories of the big and important work they are doing – interesting new projects or initiatives, or even interesting and new approaches to old projects. And, in addition to hearing about it, it makes us even happier when we can share those stories with other members. Each month, WiLS is proud to feature an interview with one of our library members. This month, we interview Gretel Stock-Kupperman, Director of Library and Instructional Design Services at Viterbo University.
If you have any questions about the WiLS Member Interviews or would like to suggest a colleague for a future edition, contact Andrea Coffin at acoffin@wils.org or 414-979-9457.
Why did you, personally, choose to work in libraries? I was a theatre major in college studying costume design and stage management. While I enjoyed working in theatre, I didn’t feel called to pursue a career in the arts. What I really enjoyed was all the research that went into designing a show and working collaboratively with others. I happened to work in my college library the summer before my senior year, and fell in love with library work. I applied to library school that next year, and went right on to get my MLS.
The funny thing about my life in libraries, having spanned almost all library types, is that I’ve used so much of my theatre background! The basic skills I use every day come from theatre, including project/deadline management, team-based work, shaping a message for an audience, and working with a variety of people. It’s been a joy to be in a profession that has utilized all my skills and more.
What is unique about the culture of your library? How do you influence it? Our culture in the library is very reflective of our institutional culture, which focuses on the Franciscan values of contemplation, hospitality, integrity, stewardship, and service. Hospitality and service are central to many of our functions in the library, and we always think about how our actions in every area impact the people we serve. Integrity is also something we emphasize in our instruction program, as we teach students how to ethically use and access information. One can argue as well that you can’t have a successful library without fiscal stewardship, but we also aim to be good stewards of the talents that reside on staff. And where can contemplation reside on campus, if not in the library (balanced with being hospitable to group study and socializing, of course)!
I aim to influence culture in a few ways. I lead by example by trying to live the values in my work. I also frame strategic conversations around our shared values so that our efforts resonate with the campus at large. Most importantly, I see my job as removing obstacles for my staff and helping them do their best work, and thus they shape and own the culture just as much as I do.
What do you think is important to know about the patrons or community you work with? What helps you understand those needs? The most important thing to understand about our student population is our high rate of first-generation students. Combine that with the large number of students who are putting themselves through college, and that makes for a different kind of student. Our students are very passionate and goal oriented, but don’t always have the support to understand how to navigate through the challenges of college. They have limited time, and feel pressured to get things done efficiently.
We work to understand our students’ needs through analyzing reference transactions, discussing instruction feedback, and listening to student comments. Twice yearly we do a space-use survey, or a “seat sweep,” that tells us what students are doing in our space and when. We have discussions in our staff meetings about trends that emerge, and how we should address them. Another wonderful source of information is our student workers, who share their perspectives and those of their peers.
With all this data, we’ve addressed students’ needs in a couple ways. By providing reference services from 9am to 1am and on weekends, we are online when they are. We also put much of our help and research content online, so students can find help at their own pace. When they do come in for help, we strive to build a relationship with them so that they know they can turn to us for assistance in the future. It’s very hands-on, and very rewarding.
What big ideas are being worked on at your library? What problems are being solved? The library has recently added instructional design into our operations. This means staff in our area are in charge of managing the learning management and course evaluation systems, as well as providing faculty training on iPads and other learning tools. We’re also adding an instructional designer to the team.
It is challenging to expand our identity into this new area, but this change provides exciting opportunities for collaboration with faculty. I hope that through the next year we can formalize faculty development and training with our new colleagues, and build on the strengths in both areas to provide a broader array of services.