Submitted Experiences

Below are recently submitted survey results. To go back survey click here.

Librarian: Karen Perrin

Possible topics include: getting up to speed, general terminology, best practices, reassurance/sense of connection, advocacy, collaboration, fresh perspective, and job satisfaction/personal fulfillment.

Advocacy: As mentioned in a previous submittal, the IL DOT Library was closed for approximately four years prior to my arrival in October 2007. During this period of indecision as to the fate of continuing or eliminating the library, I was told various MTKN members wrote letters of support as well as furnishing data and concrete evidence to IDOT administration detailing the need for DOT libraries, etc. I have been told by my administration these letters along with regional library system calls were instrumental in the decision to reinstate the library.

Possible topics include: getting up to speed, general terminology, best practices, reassurance/sense of connection, advocacy, collaboration, fresh perspective, and job satisfaction/personal fulfillment.

Getting up to speed quickly: On the second day of my new position as IL DOT Librarian, I received separate phone calls from Roberto Sarmiento (NW Trans. Lib.) and Jerry Baldwin (formerly of MN DOT Lib.) welcoming me and asking if I needed any assistance. Roberto sent several links on how to join TRANLIB as well as transportation research sites (TRB, etc.) and Jerry provided detailed information about MTKN and IL DOT's long history with the group. Within the week I had received email from several other group members including Amy Emrick (Hanson) and others. All of the information provided helped me establish a group of knowledgable transportation research contacts in record time. I can't think what could be more useful and reassuring to a new transportation librarian than having a reliable group of experienced contacts to draw upon to ask questions, etc. Additionally, the many useful research links and advice benefitted my entire organization as I was much more quickly prepared to answer reference questions than I would have been on my own. Part of the reason this networking proved so beneficial to my case is the fact that our library had been closed for nearly four years prior to my arrival and no previous library staff were on hand to pass this type of knowledge along. Additionally, very little (practically none) of the library processes/procedures from the former library staff were made available to me (either they were never recorded or they were lost in all the transition and the lack of staff for four years). In any case, I am sure I would have stumbled upon some of the information provided to me by these early contacts eventually; but in the library field, timing is often crucial and being provided with such a wealth of knowledge so quickly was an immeasurable boost to my ability to run a transportation library.

Librarian: Amy Emrick

Possible topics include: getting up to speed, general terminology, best practices, reassurance/sense of connection, advocacy, collaboration, fresh perspective, and job satisfaction/personal fulfillment.

I was first introduced to MTKN at the Pooled Fund/MTKN Kansas City meeting in 2005.  Since I was new, I remember being mostly an observer because I was amazed at the knowledge of the entire group.  I took me some time to get up to speed to understand the ties to all the agencies, especially at the federal level, and what all the acronyms mean.  But all members would patiently answer my questions.  At this same time, I was transitioning into a “head librarian” role while my boss was concentrating on records management.  I would look at other members of the group as examples of head librarians/leaders of the library at their organization.  As the years went by and I got to know the members better, I now look at them more than library colleagues, they are friends who I can count on.

I know that I can call up anyone in the group, ask for help, and receive help in a timely manner.  One example is on a Friday afternoon I called Kay at Northwestern because I saw on OCLC that Northwestern Transportation Library held a journal that I was looking for a particular article.  She sent it to me within an hour.  When I took it up to my engineer who wanted it, he was amazed that I got it so fast and on a Friday afternoon!  That is just one of many examples of ways I have been helped by a member.  I always enjoy helping out other members in anyway I can. 

In 2008 after organizing all the local arrangements for the yearly MTKN meeting in Springfield, I was nominated as Chair-Elect of the group.  While I was hesitant to agree, I came to realize that members of the group saw leadership skills that I don’t always see in myself.  I have enjoyed my time as the 2009-2010 Chair and I will always be grateful for the opportunity.