On July 1, 2015, Penn State Wilkes-Barre's Megan MacGregor will be stepping into a new role, as Student Engagement and Outreach Librarian. Since 2010, Megan has served the University Libraries and the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus as an Information Resources and Services Support Specialist, and over the years has far-exceeded her formal responsibilities, most notably by stepping in to fill a gap left by a vacant Head Librarian position in 2014. She was recognized for her work this year with the Margaret Knoll Spangler Oliver Libraries award.
Primary responsibilities of this position will include collaborating with teaching faculty to incorporate information literacy skill development into the undergraduate curriculum instruction; using exhibitions, public programming, social networking, and other innovative techniques to engage the student community with research and library services; and identifying and promoting the use of emerging technologies throughout the campus community.
"I'm very excited about being Penn State Wilkes-Barre's first student engagement and outreach librarian!" said MacGregor, whose background is in Museum Studies. The Nesbitt Library is located in the modern LEED Silver-Certified Academic Commons building, and as part of the Penn State University Libraries, is one of the top ten libraries in the country.
"I love being able to share the power that ranking wields with people. I'm hoping in my new position to make people more aware of what we have and how to use it, and be able to bring a sense of wonder to the stacks," explains MacGregor. MacGregor's creativity and enthusiasm will enable Penn State Wilkes-Barre to offer unique library services to students, faculty, and staff.
"It's a great opportunity for me to expand marketing of the library to the campus community through exhibits, technology, and public programming, in addition to traditional library services, such as research instruction," said MacGregor.