June 2009

Kaleidoscope celebrates the tremendous contributions of staff who are leaving with this special issue created in their honour. We invited supervisors, colleagues, and the staff who were leaving to write for this issue. Some staff decided against a write-up but allowed us to list their name and years of service. Thank you, thank you, thank you, and best wishes to our amazing colleagues. Your contributions are immeasurable and you leave the Library richer for them.

Matt Arnstein, Division of Library Information Technologies,

5 years

When Matt Arnstein joined DLIT in the Fall of 2004, he had the challenge of taking over the KMODDL and Race and Religion projects when the original programmer for those projects went on disability leave. Despite stepping into these complex projects mid-stream and having to learn and work with someone else's code under very tight time constraints, Matt quickly impressed his colleagues with his technical expertise, his creativity and resourcefulness. Matt not only skillfully completed these projects, he suggested and implemented several design enhancements of his own.

Since that time, Matt has continued to excel in key roles on many high profile library projects, including the Integrated Framework project, the Ockham Collection Registry, and the "Web Vision" re-implementation of the CUL Web site. It was on the Web Vision project that I first worked with Matt and saw first hand how passionate he is about his work, and the high standards to which he holds himself.

Perhaps Matt's most unique and lasting contributions to the library came from his role as lead technologist on several newspaper digitization projects that included the Friend of Man, Cornell Daily Sun, and Preservation News collections. Matt successfully adapted the open source Greenstone digital library software--a new platform for DLIT--creating a re-usable and more easily maintainable infrastructure for managing and delivering digitized content.
Although DLIT will certainly miss Matt's hard work, technical skill, and creativity, we wish him all the best as he conquers new challenges. (Adam Smith; photograph by Oya Rieger)

Mary Arsenault, Strategic Initiatives, 22 years

Mary came to Cornell in 1987.  She was hired as an administrative aide at the International Students and Scholars Office.  In spring of 1994, she became the administrative assistant in the Preservation/Conservation Department at the Library.  Eight months into the job, Mary's contribution was already noted.  Her then supervisor, John Dean, wrote in that year's performance review:  "Because of the particular nature of the Department and its typically chaotic environment, it has taken Mary a little time to gain some familiarity with the variety of the systems ... the work that Mary has been doing in this area is a valuable contribution to the work of the entire Department."  The years that followed were filled with changes on all fronts: funding changes, students and staff changes, space shortage, and reorganizations.  Almost in every year's performance review, Mary's supervisor referred to change.  One remark was quite representative:  "The work of the Department continues to expand in both quantity and range....  Space in the office is a problem….  Mary must continuously re-arrange some of the office working areas to seat often impromptu meetings."  Mary's job responsibilities increased every year.  She advanced from C-level to E-level over the years.  She has demonstrated remarkable ability to adapt to new challenges, acquire new job skills, learn new technology, and perform new job functions.

Mary has a strong sense of commitment to her job.  Conscientious, hardworking, reliable are the words that come to mind when I think about her.  Being the Accounts Coordinator of the Public Services and Assessment (now Strategic Initiatives), Mary's job responsibility requires her to interact with a wide range of library staff as well as colleagues beyond Cornell Library's and the University's walls.  Mary is consistently professional. She is a quiet person, a wonderfully kind colleague.  She loves horses and enjoys riding with her friends. We wish her best of luck for her retirement. (Xin Li)

David Block, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections,

25 years

This is a caricature of David drawn on a trip to Cuba ten years ago. (Image provided by David Block)

Jeri-Lynn Buchanan, LTS Acquisitions, 30 years

I first want to congratulate Jeri-Lynn on her retirement!  It’s well deserved after 30 hardworking years!  Jeri-Lynn began her employment in April 1979 in what was then called Library Budget and Accounting.  Jeri-Lynn was responsible for approving the many invoices produced by her current department, Acquisitions Services.  Back in the good ole days she had to manually write down on a ledger the title, whom the payment was going to, the amount, fund number, date, and invoice number.  It was a relief when Christian Boissonnas created a program that was then input on a computer and backed up daily to a floppy disk.  I personally remember having to go up to Budget and Accounting myself to retrieve invoices for proof of payment and always appreciated Jeri-Lynn’s assistance.  She was so approachable and nice to work with.  After 15 years there she joined us in the Acquisitions Department under Mary Wesche.  She started as our Approvals Coordinator and in 1997 began her work with the Serials Department, checking in and claiming any missing issues.  Jeri-Lynn is very productive, one of the highest in my unit.  She’s always there to help out and do more when needed.  She’s always the one everyone will go to with questions if I’m not at my desk.  Her expertise in so many areas is helpful to all of us.

After her retirement Jeri-Lynn plans to travel and spend more time with all of her grandchildren.  She also plans to work at the food pantry in her area and volunteer at Cayuga Medical Center.  We wish Jeri-Lynn all the best in her “new endeavors”!   Thank you again for all your hard work and dedication! (Lisa Maybury)

George Cobb, Library Administrative Services, 30 years

Martha Crowe, Research and Learning Services, 40 years

Sheila Dean, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Guest Curator 2008/09

OK, the image may not be me, but if you've gone to the portion of the Darwin exhbition in RMC ("Charles Darwin: After the Origin), you'll know that Darwin published the engraving of the kudu, considering the origin and beauty of the horns. As my year-long position as a guest curator in RMC nears an end, I wanted to thank everyone throughout the library system who helped give Darwin a place in RMC. There were many of you, from those in Conservation to those in care of various collections and everyone in between, and you made the process that much more interesting, enjoyable, and a true learning process. As Darwin signed many of his letters: "Yours faithfully,"
Sheila Dean.

(Image provided by Sheila Dean)

Brian Eden, Law Library, 15 years

Brian decided against a write-up but he did allow us to use this photograph from a joint retirement celebration held at the Law Library. Brian Eden with his colleagues from the Law Library who are also retiring: from left, Patricia Jones and Nancy Moore.

(Photograph by Mae Louis)

Ken Fung, Music Library, 29 years

I first arrived at Cornell in the fall of 1963.  Ithaca was a sleepy town with one Chinese restaurant and no Commons.  On the hill above, the idyllic calm of one November day was broken by a shock wave whose ripples met me in the expressions of classmates as I approached Olin Library: the President had been shot.  I imagined myself as a future policy wonk until the Music program lured me away.

Among the experiences of my time were John Hsu’s gamba recitals, Ivesian lessons with John Kirkpatrick, and playing in really gargantuan works for massed orchestras and choruses.  We had tea and cookies at Donald Grout's lectures, glimpsed Allen Ginsberg on the streets of Collegetown, and felt privileged if we caught Ricky Jay doing magic at a back yard party behind Nabokov’s former house.  I bussed down to march on the Pentagon, grew my hair long, and in a student short filmed by Liz Evett, could be seen trying to get high on roasted banana peels.  During my last semester I staged Stravinsky’s Histoire du Soldat, with a dream cast and the help of Peter Kahn.

After Cornell I started working in Slavic acquisitions in Olin.  The books from every Soviet Republic and the exchanges with their academies were openings to the other side of the moon.  Outside our office, an imposing labyrinth of catalog drawers extended everywhere, and we added to them daily.

After more studies I worked for Bob Moog at his synthesizer factory in Trumansburg.  You can read about it in Trevor Pinch’s book.  And joining the fraternity of musicians commuting all over the region inaugurated years of travellers' tales.

In the mid '70s, I was a night supervisor in the Music Library. A young cellist from Harvard was showing up on weekends, dating one of our grad students.  Once an impromptu session was arranged, and we got to read quartets with Yo Yo Ma.

In 1983, as another job was ending, an opening on the hill led me to my present tenure coordinating Music Technical Services. Receiving, maintaining, and sampling our varied media has been an ultimate feast.  I survived our millennial exodus, exile, and return to a renovated Lincoln, where an expansive Library presides over the Music Department and its diverse activities.

Ken on vacation, standing outside Imperial College in London; photographs provided by Ken Fung

As I exchange my Staff I.D. for a retiree one, I’ll be using my new French passport for longer stays in France. My wife Annie is again working there, and we hope we can find a way to maintain a life in both our worlds! (Ken Fung)

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The Music Library staff wishes Ken all the best in his upcoming adventures. (Bonna Boettcher)

Surinder Ghangas, Division of Library Information Technologies, 30 years

Although Surinder is taking the SRI, she will be returning to work part-time for the next year. Since she has many projects to complete and pass on, she does not feel this is a true retirement. Stay tuned for the 'real' retirement some time next year!

Helen Hamilton, ILR Catherwood Library, 43 years

Helen Hamilton began her Cornell career in July 1961 working as a secretary in the serials department at Olin.  In 1968, she left the university to raise a family but returned to work the following year in Uris circulation.  In May of 1973, Helen began work at the Catherwood Library as the reference unit’s secretary.  Hiring her was an easy decision;  Helen’s positive attitude, knowledge of library land, and especially her command of shorthand were the deciding factors.  For 36 years, the reference collection has remained in excellent condition due to Helen’s comprehensive knowledge not only of the sources but also her contacts with the publishers.  We could get missing pages in an instant due to her ability to pick up the phone and get someone moving to help us “ . . . contribute to the research process.”  By the time of her retirement from Cornell in late June 09, Helen will have an exceptional record of 43 years service.  Her dedication to service and Cornell over these many years is a key reason why Catherwood has evolved into the foremost library of its type in North America.  We wish her good fortune (especially on those trips to Las Vegas) in a well deserved retirement. (Gordon Law; photograph provided by Helen Hamilton)

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Thanks to Helen Hamilton for her support of the library and to me, personally.  I have appreciated her dedication to service excellence and her understanding that the workplace can be fun, too.  I will miss her greatly. (Suzanne Cohen)

John Hoffmann, Library Administrative Services, 23 years

John Hoffmann's arrival at the library 23 years ago marked the beginning of a new era in which the library placed a stronger emphasis on the facilities aspect of its operation. It also coincided with a period of unprecedented improvements to and expansion of library facilities. John oversaw literally hundreds of projects of all sizes, complexities, and budgets. Some of the more notable ones included the construction of the Carl A. Kroch Library, the Africana library, and four new high density storage modules at the library annex. John guided major renovations in the Music, Engineering, Math, and Physical Sciences libraries, as well as many in Olin and Uris libraries such as the Kinkeldey and Austen rooms, the Libe cafe, and various improvements to the first floor of Olin.

In addition to his facility project duties, John had operational responsibility for areas such as building maintenance, shipping and receiving, and the Olin copy center and public copier operation.

A man of many talents, John should have plenty to keep him busy and happy in his retirement. The Cornell Chronicle recently featured John in one of its "New beginnings" segments. (Lee Cartmill)

Joe Homza, Division of Library Information Technologies,

2 years

In 2007, I came to Cornell University seeking new opportunities, moved (back) to Ithaca, and have been enjoying the culture of the town more than I thought the town could offer although I grew up in the area.  Since then, I have been working with Desktop Services within the library system assisting the Library in advancing its technological accomplishments as I brought many skills and knowledge gained from working within corporate and privately-owned sectors of the industry.

Working within an organization that is funded from endowments, yet still dedicated to their employees, I have received many expressions of sympathy for my severance; however, I realize that business decisions are necessary.  As my leaving Cornell has been involuntary, I remain optimistic for new experiences that are ahead.  I currently hold a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, and I am also pursuing a Master's in Information Security, striving for the next milestone in my career.  Being close to this milestone, I can easily foresee new opportunities.  Also, as an artist, photographer, aspiring hobbyist musician, and adventurer, I will continue developing my creative skills through the transition to my next career step.

Since coming to Cornell, I have learned many things that I can use to continue developing myself both personally and professionally.  As this door closes, I hope with dedication to my own development, this set-back will expose new opportunities and experiences that will add value to my career path.  With my own optimistic outlook and resiliency, I hope all of those that are leaving Cornell, whether voluntary or otherwise, can find fulfillment and delve into a world that is continuously evolving. (Joe Homza)

Patricia Jones, Law Library, 27 years

Several months ago, the staff of the Law Library took part in a “Strengths Finder” workshop.  As the name suggests, the goal of the workshop was to identify and gain an understanding of the personality strengths each staff member brings to his or her job.  After the workshop, Pat told me her greatest strength is in the area called “Responsibility.”  When I reflected on this, I realized that Pat does embody what it means to be “responsible.”  Whether overseeing the Law Library’s annual Salvation Army “Adopt-a-Family” project at holiday time, or monitoring the library’s budget as carefully as she would her own money, Pat’s job performance has always demonstrated this core strength in abundance.

Another of Pat’s key strengths, in my opinion, is her strong service orientation.  She is well known in the Law Library for routinely going the extra mile to help library users get the resources they need.  In one instance, Pat obtained an out-of-print book directly from the author when one of our faculty members requested it and she was unable to procure it through conventional channels!  Pat has sustained this high level of service for nearly three decades, even while working in a position that is considered to be “behind the scenes.”  She truly is one of those people who puts the “service” in “technical services.”  We congratulate Pat on her years of exemplary service, and wish her the very best as she enters this new and exciting phase of her life! (Jean Pajerek; photograph by Pat Court)

Bob Kibbee, Maps and Geospatial Information Collection, Research and Learning Services, 28 years

It is almost impossible to believe that Bob Kibbee is retiring from the Library after almost 30 years! For most of them, he worked as a reference and instruction librarian in Olin Library, including as Head of the Reference Department. He is retiring as the Maps and Geospatial Librarian and the Head of the Maps and Media Department at Olin and Uris Libraries.

Bob leaves some very big shoes to fill in Olin and Uris. His accomplishments are so numerous that I would have to write a book to merely list them. Even a random selection of his numerous activities and projects that have positively impacted CUL and its patrons, would fill pages; his active participation in the creation and development of the Citation Management Committee, the promotion of Refworks, the various instruction guides he has created, his serving as a regular consultant to “Uncle Ezra,” are all just a few of his contributions. His knowledge of maps, genealogy, data, and the Census, will be very hard to match or replace. His expertise in digital geography tools has enriched the workshop program of Olin/Uris tremendously--along with the genealogy workshops, the GIS and “Neogeography” workshops have been undisputed favorites among alumni. Bob has also taught a whole slew of instruction sessions on various topics, including the history of cartography and its influence on the cultural development of society. His enthusiasm for the maps exhibit program has single-handedly resurrected it and highlighted the central importance of cartography in making sense of cultural and social history.

When we found out that Bob was going to retire, many of us literally panicked and some of us are still wondering how we'll manage without him. We'll certainly miss him!

But we know that Bob himself will have a blast in retirement. Helping the Historical Society in Trumansburg, playing the bagpipes, reading books in Latin, or enjoying time with his family, Bob will just be too busy to miss us. Except when we come calling for help and consultation--and we will, Bob, you know it!

Enjoy your retirement, Bob and a big thank-you from all of us in the Library! (Kornelia Tancheva)

Anna Korhonen, LTS Acquisitions, 18 years

During her nineteen-year tenure at Cornell, Anna has worked her way up the ranks through several technical services jobs from serials check-in to cataloging some of the older materials in the Icelandic collection.  She held paraprofessional management positions in Acquisitions while working towards her MLS at Syracuse University. 
 
Since that degree was conferred, her hard work for the Library, willingness to adapt to frequent job and organization changes, and dedication to the profession are well documented.  She held librarian positions as assistant government documents librarian, then documents librarian, and finally as Head of Acquisitions which merged her documents activities with the broader field of material acquisitions.  In recognition of these unfailing contributions, last year Anna was promoted to the rank of Associate Librarian. 
 
One frequent outcome from when people announce their intent to retire is a sudden cessation of active participation, of withdrawal from future planning, a period as a ‘lame duck’ while waiting as the clock ticks out its final tock.  With Anna, this ‘duck’ time has been anything but lame.  She’s been playing a role as teacher and mentor to her successors while helping the Library prepare for the other budget reduction outcomes scheduled to begin on July 1.  The decades old approval plans and century old (well, it must be close to a century) monographic series standing orders all will have been up-in-the-air.  When Anna walks out the door and the Clock Tower ticks its last tock on June 30, those of us left behind will be able to face a much changed workplace because of all of the heavy lifting she’s completed. (Scott Wicks; photographs by Cynthia Lange)

Laura Krasnow, Division of Library Information Technologies,

1 year

Laura has worked at DLIT for just under a year so she is not really retiring. Laura is going to spend her time pursuing photography and continuing to volunteer at the Laboratory of Ornithology with the Elephant Listening Project.

(Photograph provided by Laura Krasnow)

Cynthia Lange, LTS Cataloging, 24 years

The name Cynthia Lange was known to me long before the person.  When she started riding the same commuter bus with me several years ago, I finally had a face to put to the name and the various things (all good) that I had heard about her. We sat together from time to time, but I am not one to start conversation and those first few rides were rather quiet. Cynthia quickly picked up on my love of reading and was also a fan of the same genre as I, mysteries and horror. Suddenly we had a whole lot to talk about. She also, craftily, enticed it out of me that I am an avid writer.

As we got to know each other better during the commute, our friendship grew into something I never expected. Cynthia is a gifted photographer and artist as well as a talented writer.  She is always willing to help and listen and has helped me immeasurably with editing some of my own writing. I don’t share rough drafts with just anyone and Cynthia’s honest feedback is very valuable. She has shared some of her writing with me, too and I hope that I have been as helpful to her as she has to me over the past few years.

I will miss Cynthia’s cheerful greeting of “Bob” (inside joke) in the morning and evening at the bus stop. I’ll miss sharing my macabre, sarcastic sense of humor with someone who actually gets it. It is my sincere hope that as she begins her new life outside of the University, she will find time to create to her heart’s content in ways she never imagined. She has truly been a trusted friend and confidant, something I never expected to find at work.

Best wishes, Cynthia! Keep in touch! (Pamela Clearwater)

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I don't remember when I first met Cynthia but I had the pleasure of working with her on Kaleidoscope for several years when she was the photo editor.  Her creativity and fine eye for detail resulted in exceptional photos that sparkled and set themselves apart.  They caught the attention of our readers and we received much positive feedback.  Cynthia has many talents and photography is only one of them.  I already miss her writing and proofing skills, photography, and wise counsel.  We wish her well and know that she will take her many interests, talent, and creativity to her next venture. (Elizabeth Teskey)

Patricia Miller, Engineering Library, 22 years

Pat Miller is retiring June 24 after almost 22 years at Cornell. She started in 1987 in the Physical Sciences Library, then moved to Olin ILS. Due to ongoing recruitment from Betsy Bush, she moved to Mann ILS for five years and then on to circulation and the stacks.  She managed the Mann stacks and Entomology Library with a crew of hard working student assistants.  She also organized and participated in an annual summer shelf-reading project, the first complete shelf-reading project done in many years.  This was in the days of the old Mann Library stacks: nine tiers of stacks, no air conditioning, in the extreme heat of summer.  In 1998 she became circulation supervisor at the Veterinary Library, where she did many tasks beyond circulation, including reference, technical services, interlibrary loan, inventories, and stack moves.

Since late 2008 we've been extremely fortunate to have her in the Engineering Library, processing our serials and bindery, and also helping many patrons at the service desk. Pat is a tireless worker, resourceful at solving problems, and willing to do whatever is needed to get the job done. Pat is also very personable and friendly, making her a pleasure to work with. She is a great colleague and we will all miss her.

Thank you, Pat! (Jill Powell; photograph by Carla DeMello)