The growth of Warner Memorial Library’s digital media collection opened up the perfect career opportunity for 2005 alumnae Andrea Reed.
As an Eastern student, Reed was a history major and a member of the Student Activities Board. She also spent a semester abroad in Austria.
Reed went on to get her master in library and information science from Drexel University. “I was originally thinking (of getting) a masters in museum studies,” Reed said. However, she felt that it would limit her career options so she decided to major in library and information science instead. “I saw it as being very versatile,” Reed said. “I’m glad that I did.”
Before working at Eastern, Reed worked at the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University in their special collections and digital library. When she saw the new position of media and digital librarian at Eastern, she applied and got the job.
She is in charge of most of the library’s non-print materials, including DVDs, cassettes and web 2.0 tools, such as the library’s new Facebook page.
The library uses Facebook to list upcoming events, share event photos and answer questions on the discussion board. Eventually there will be bibliographic instructions on there as well.
The library recently increased its popular film collection with the addition of about 130 DVDs, due to a donation from the Student Government Association. Soon the library’s digital media collection will expand even further as preloaded digital audio books are added.
Returning to Eastern as a staff member rather than a student was at first very intimidating for Reed. She had to learn to view her former professors as colleagues. Reed loved Eastern as a student and continues to enjoy her time here as a staff member.
“It’s a lot of fun to be back on campus,” Reed said.