NCSU Libraries Focus Online

Volume 21 number 1 - Fall 2000

Steven P. Morris

Steven P. Morris was appointed head of Data Services on February 1, 2000. Morris leads the development and management of spatial and numeric data resources and services supporting teaching, research, and extension in all colleges within North Carolina State University. He maintains a high level of expertise in spatial and numeric data resources and applications, GIS, metadata standards and trends, and user-oriented digital library environments. He researches and evaluates emerging software applications for data analysis, display, and management, including Web-based tools that are available to users regardless of time or location. In addition, he coordinates the design and delivery of general and discipline-specific instructional sessions and of Web-based tutorials, data documentation, and research resources.

Since October 1997, Morris has served as the NCSU Libraries' spatial and numeric data services librarian. He developed and managed GIS and other library spatial and numeric data resources and services and led efforts to work with faculty and students to develop policies and procedures for the selection, organization, delivery, and maintenance of data collections. He provided general and discipline-specific instructional sessions to the campus and directed the Libraries' plans to expand its networked data collection for delivery to the user's desktop in a multi-platform environment. Morris also served as NC State's official representative to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research.

He holds the M.L.I.S. from the University of California, Berkeley, and B.A. and M.A. degrees in geography from California State University, Chico. He is very active in professional organizations.

New Library Personnel: Rachel E. Kuhn

Rachel E. Kuhn became the NCSU Libraries' visual resources librarian on March 20, 2000. Kuhn works in the Design Library, which supports the School of Design. The Design Library uses visual resources intensively and holds a significant portion of the university's visual resource collections. Working closely with faculty, staff, and students, Kuhn develops and organizes visual resource collections and services, including slides and digital image collections. She also serves on a team working in collaboration with a School of Design faculty committee. The team, composed of staff from the Design Library and the Digital Library Initiatives and Cataloging departments, will digitize, classify, and provide access to slides and images through a structured database. As visual resources are further integrated into classroom and online instruction, Kuhn will support the development of additional multimedia databases while drawing upon partnerships with the Scholarly Communication Center, Learning Technology Service, and the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning.

Kuhn came to this position from the Libraries' Fellows program, which she joined in 1999. As a Fellow, she focused on the School of Design visual resources project; provided reference service and consultation; handled collection management for the reference collection in art, photography, fine arts, and handicrafts; and taught in the Libraries' instruction program. She also worked as a library assistant at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University, and as a library technician at the A. Lewis Aycock Art Slide Library at that university. She holds an M.L.I.S. from UNC-Greensboro and a B.A. in art history from Wake Forest University.

New Library Personnel: Lois Fischer Black

Lois Fischer Black became the NCSU Libraries' assistant curator for Special Collections on June 5, 2000. Black manages the organization and technical services of the archival and manuscript collections, including the department's Web site and Minaret database of finding aids. She also participates in collection development and donor relations.

Black previously worked at the University of Delaware as the senior assistant librarian in its Special Collections Department and at the New York Academy of Medicine Libraries. Most recently, she served as curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts at the New York Academy of Medicine. There she promoted use of collections via the Internet, print sources, and public programs and exhibitions. In addition, she prepared grant proposals.

Black earned the M.S. degree, Rare Book Program, at Columbia University. She received an M.A. in the history of technology, the environment, and medicine from Rutgers University. Black graduated cum laude with a B.A. in comparative literature from Cornell University, and she has completed graduate coursework in several disciplines. Black has an extensive record of presentations and publications.

New Library Personnel: Erik C. Moore

Erik C. Moore was appointed librarian for the Integrated Library System (ILS) on June 27, 2000. He joins the Systems Department to provide librarywide coordination for development, implementation, and evaluation of ILS interface features and services. He works closely with library staff in collection management, technical services, and public services who have responsibility for managing departmental applications of ILS and serves as a resource person on ILS development, interface design, management reporting, and library standards. Moore’s expertise will be integral to the successful migration of services to the new DRA system and the implementation of new releases and upgrades.

Moore has extensive experience with ILS software. Most recently, he was a help desk specialist with Data Research Associates (DRA). He provided technical support for all aspects of DRA, including software functionality, networking, TCP/IP, DNS, and general NOC. He is expert in INNOPAC automated acquisitions systems and UDMS report-writing software.

Moore received the M.S.L.I.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned a B.A. with highest distinction in English and Russian language and literature from UNC-Chapel Hill. Moore completed an intensive language and literature program at Rostov State University, Rostov-na-Donu, Russian Federation, and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Dobroe Slovo (National Slavic Honor Society). He is a member of the American Library Association and the Southern Conference on Slavic Studies.

New Library Personnel: Edward H. Teague

Edward H. Teague became head of the Design Library on July 1, 2000. Teague, a well-known and distinguished leader in the field of arts librarianship, has served as president and Webmaster of the Art Libraries Society of North America. His book, World Architecture Index: A Guide to Illustrations, has become a standard reference in art and architecture libraries.

In the Design Library, Teague has administrative responsibility for a library that serves a primary clientele of fifty faculty and 600 students, and he works closely with the School of Design to develop library collections and services. He also will lead efforts to incorporate new information technologies into teaching, learning, and providing services that meet user needs. Teague is guiding a team from the NCSU Libraries' Digital Library Initiatives and Cataloging departments to digitize slide images and provide access to these images through a structured database.

Since 1984, Teague led the University of Florida's Architecture and Fine Arts (AFA) library, which maintains a collection of 100,000 volumes. As the bibliographer for arts and architecture, he managed the overall development of the University Libraries' architectural and fine arts collections supporting academic programs in architecture, art, construction, interior design, landscape architecture, music, and urban and regional planning. Teague's experience with digitization of images includes a 1995 sabbatical investigating projects at the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Virginia, and other institutions. Teague also held professional positions at UNC-Charlotte and Valdosta State University.

Teague received the M.S.L.S. from UNC-Chapel Hill, an M.A. in art history from the University of Georgia, and a B.F.A. from Chapel Hill. Teague also has written Index to Italian Architecture: A Guide to Key Monuments and Reproduction Sources, as well as numerous articles and reviews in art and library journals. His extensive professional involvement includes executive board offices with the Art Libraries Society of North America.

New Library Personnel: Ernst Sebastian Hierl

Ernst Sebastian Hierl has joined the Collection Management Department as librarian for humanities and social sciences, effective July 3, 2000. He previously worked as an NCSU Libraries Fellow, assigned to Collection Management. In his new role, Hierl provides leadership for humanities and social sciences collection development and management. He also manages the planning, policy development, funding, evaluation, and use of library collections in those subject areas.

Hierl has an outstanding educational background and advanced business, computer, and language skills. His public service experience includes work as director of international operations with Best Doctors, Inc., and he has held several internships in the publishing industry in France, Canada, and Germany. At the Perry-Castaneda Library, University of Texas at Austin, Hierl was an office assistant in Government Documents; a proctor in the Electronic Information Center; and a library assistant, staffing both the reference desk and information desk of the main research library.

Hierl holds the M.L.I.S. from the University of Texas at Austin, a Ph.D. and M.A. in comparative literature from the University of South Carolina, and a B.A. with honors in international business from Germany's leading business school. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi. His language skills include fluency in English, German, French, and Dutch. He is active professionally and has published extensively.

New Library Personnel: Susan Wolf Neilson

The NCSU Libraries appointed Susan Wolf Neilson as its reference librarian for management and economics, effective July 10, 2000. Neilson joins the Research and Information Services Department, where she will deliver information and research services to faculty, staff, and students. She also serves as departmental liaison to the College of Management and develops client-based information services tailored to the needs of the college.

Neilson has extensive knowledge in the area of business reference. Most recently, as business reference librarian with the Charleston County Public Library, she served as reference coordinator for branches on business-related services. In a past position as librarian/project manager with the Memphis/Shelby County Public Library and Information Center, Neilson managed reference activities and supervised reference and support staff, including staff in Government Publications and Interlibrary Loan Services.

Neilson received the M.L.I.S. from UNC-Greensboro and a B.A. in literature and linguistics from Florida International University. She completed additional graduate studies in anthropology from the University of Georgia and in linguistics from the University of South Florida. She has served two years on the American Library Association's Cultural Diversity Committee, and she was revision editor for the Encyclopedia of American Industries. Neilson wrote a monthly column for the Charleston Regional Business Journal and has established herself as a regular speaker to numerous civic organizations and businesses.

New Library Personnel: John L. Isenhour

The NCSU Libraries appointed John L. Isenhour as associate director for Information Technology, effective August 28, 2000. He has administrative responsibility for the Systems Department; Digital Library Initiatives Department; and the NC LIVE server sites, a statewide collection of electronic resources shared among multiple library and user communities. He develops strategic goals and objectives for the Libraries' information technology environment and ensures that programs, services, and infrastructure are responsive to the academic and research needs of NC State's faculty, students, and staff. As the Libraries' top information technology administrator, he manages significant budgets and expenditures and guides the development of grants and proposals for external funding and partnerships. Isenhour will collaborate with information technology and distance education colleagues to shape NC State's network infrastructure and options for off-campus access and will work closely with counterparts within the Triangle Research Libraries Network in pursuit of consortial goals and to promote sharing of technical expertise.

Isenhour formerly served as library computer professional at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois. He has extensive experience with the DRA integrated library system at different institutions and as a programmer/analyst at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Isenhour holds Ph.D. and M.S.L.I.S. degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a B.A. in psychology from the University of Louisville. Along with superb technical credentials, he has an extensive record of scholarly publications and presentations.