Judith O’Dell

1. What interested you in joining SLA? 

I was a member before and dropped out when the state divided into two chapters.  I always liked the conferences and decided it was time to return.

2. What was your first music concert ?

I am not sure if this qualifies as a concert but it was when I was taken to see an opera at about the age of 9.  If you mean a rock concert it was to see James Brown when he was in St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

3. What is your current position and what do you love about what you do?

I am a reference librarian specializing in business, economics and law.  I love the diversity in the position and the ability to help people find needed information.

4. What’s left on your bucket list?

I don’t have one, my plans rarely become reality.

5. Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself?

I am from Detroit and a 2 time graduate of Wayne State University.  I have lived in St. Croix, Virgin Islands; Boca Raton, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina and now Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

1. Where do you work, and what do you do?
As a Research Manager at Clausen Miller P.C., I do a little bit of everything.  Our department is unique in that we encompass librarians, research specialists, law students, paralegals, and case assistants.  I help assign projects based on staff availability and skill level.  Guiding junior research staff through projects, I suggest resources and strategies.  On large assignments, I take on more of a project manager role, ensuring timelines are met and communication is clear among the team.  I am also sought out for complex research.  Tracking down hard-to-locate witnesses and obtaining information on foreign companies are common requests I receive.  Every day is different, which is what attracted me to the research field to begin with!

2. If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?
She-Ra, the alter-ego of Adora from the Princess of Power series that ran from 1985-1986.  Before morphing into She-Ra, Adora is already fiercely independent and brainy.  As She-Ra, her superpowers included incredible strength, endurance, speed, and emotional intelligence.  Preferring to outsmart her enemies, She-Ra used combat as a last resort.  I totally adored her as a kid.

3. What interested you in joining SLA?
My initial experiences with the Student Chapter of SLA while at Wayne State University definitely played a key role in getting me interested in what the overall organization had to offer.

4. What have you been reading lately?
I recently finished  I’d Rather Be in Charge: A Legendary Business Leader’s Roadmap for Achieving Pride, Power, and Joy at Work by Charlotte Beers and Barack Obama: The Story by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist David Maraniss.

5. Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself?
I love helping people find what they need.

1. Where do you work, and what do you do?
I am a research analyst at Wayne State University in the Division of Development and Alumni Affairs. I gather, interpret, analyze, and disseminate information to secure support for the University.

2. What is your favorite season?
Fall, although I’m not sure why as I get cold easily. Summer would be a better season for me, but I really like the autumn foliage, so fall is my favorite despite the cooler temperatures.

3. What does the chapter give you?
Three opportunities:
• Educational: the monthly meetings teach me what’s new in our field.
• Networking: before and after each meeting I meet new people and re-connect with other information professionals.
• Leadership: the chapter offers numerous volunteer leadership opportunities and I’ve been fortunate to serve as Chapter Liaison to Wayne State University, Program Committee member, President-Elect, President, and this year as Past President.

4. Paper, plastic or bags from SLA conferences?
I bring my own bag to the annual conference and do not use the one supplied by SLA. Instead, I return it to the registration desk so it can be recycled or reused. Most recently I had a tote bag made from recycled materials.

5. Do you have any advice for other members?
Don’t be afraid to get involved or to connect to other members. Our chapter is filled with some of the most approachable people I’ve ever met. We help each other out, offer advice, and really appreciate every member. There are lots of volunteer opportunities and serving in a leadership position is a great way to meet other professionals, learn new skills and gain leadership experience.

1. Where do you work and what do you do?
I work at Baker College in Muskegon as a reference and instruction librarian.  I am responsible for collection development and research guides (LibGuides) for the health sciences and culinary subject areas.  I also schedule the library instruction sessions.

2. How long have you been a member of the chapter?
I became a member this year.

3. Do you have any pets?
I don’t have any pets now.  As a child I had container pets – fish and hamsters.

4. Chocolate: Dark or Milk?
I really like both kinds.  If both kinds were available I would alternate eating a piece of one and then a piece of the other.   If I could only choose one, I think it would be dark, but if only milk was available I would definitely eat that.

5. Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself?
I like to bake and got a blue ribbon for my butter cake in 4-H.  I’m out of competition now, I just like to bake.

1. Where do you work, and what do you do?
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP; I’m a law librarian who conducts legal and business research for attorneys, paralegals, and other professionals at the firm’s main office in downtown Detroit and its satellite offices in Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Lansing, and Kalamazoo.

2. What was your first music concert?
The earliest one I can recall is the Branford Marsalis Trio.  They were performing at Western Michigan University when I was a student there 20 years ago.

3. Are you in a particular division of SLA?
Yes, the Legal Division.

4. Reading:  Kindle, Nook, Smartphone, or paper?
I remain old-school when it comes to this: Paper – books, newspapers and magazines; which I love to collect and I usually accumulate mass volumes of print.

5. What is your favorite hobby?
Other than reading?  I’m also a music enthusiast and collector.  I love to browse old record shops for vinyl…and there’s nothing like the artwork of the sleeve and pops, cracks, and hisses of a long-play recorded disc.

Every month we ask one of the Michigan Chapter SLA members to answer five questions. This month we feature Paula Storm, Eastern Michigan University.

1. Where do you work, and what do you do?
I work at Eastern Michigan University and have been here for 7 years. I am Assistant Professor and the Science and Technology Librarian. The departments I support include: biology, chemistry, physics and astronomy, math, clinical medicine and engineering. I also help out with nursing.

2. What does the chapter give you?
Michigan SLA is a way to continue learning and meeting and networking with colleagues.

3. What is a favorite memory?
Adopting our two sons from Honduras and Guatemala.

4. Do you have any advice for other members?
Really get involved in the organization and volunteer. This is the best way to get to know the other members and feel like you are a part of the organization.

5. What’s left on your bucket list?

• Visitng the Grand Canyon, Hungary and the French Wine Country
• Mastering the hammered dulcimer and bodrhan
• Reading the entire Bible
• Mastering French cooking
• Learning Latin
• Becoming a better Christian

This is the first in a monthly series of “5 Questions.”  Every month we will ask one of the Michigan Chapter SLA members to answer five questions.  This month we feature Abby Bedford, Science Librarian at Grand Valley State University.

1. Where do you work and what do you do?
I work at Grand Valley State University where I’m the science librarian, serving as liaison to Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Cell & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

2. What is your favorite hobby/hobbies?
I love to knit and sing.  I currently sing in the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus.

3. Have you ever been a SLA mentor/mentee?
I’ve never been a mentor/mentee, but I was part of the UM School of Information student chapter.

4. What is left on your “bucket” list?
I’d love to be a part of a Nickel Creek-esque band.

5. What interested you in joining SLA?
I wanted to be able to learn more about science librarianship and SLA seems to be the best place to connect with other science librarians.