Biographies

Sophronia Bruno

I grew up in a small town in northern California. After receiving my B.A. in History from UC Santa Cruz, I decided I wanted to go back to school; library science just seemed to fit. I liked the program here at the iSchool, and as you can’t do much better than Austin for a city, here I am, after a long drive from CA with two beloved cats (who have since recovered completely). With my background in history, I was originally interested in archives, but quickly shifted toward public librarianship when I realized that I wanted to be actively involved in the public library as the center for community development and education. Upon graduation, I hope to work as a reference librarian at a small to medium-sized public library.

For this project, I created a tutorial for Consumer Health Complete and thoroughly enjoyed putting together this Biographies page. TexShare and the Bridge are great assets for libraries—I only wish I had known about this resource earlier in my life; in that spirit, I hope to promote these resources to patrons and co-workers wherever I end up working.

Lisa Charbonnet

I’m one of those rare birds born in Austin but I grew up in San Antonio and I’ve been burning up that 90 mile stretch of I-35 ever since. I’m a fifth generation Texan married to a fifth generation (plus?) New Orleanian. Our concession to his heritage has been to send both of our sons to Tulane. We have one of them back here already!

The stars aligned to send me back to library school. I have a background like a science fiction writer: I’ve been a banker, a stay-at-home mom, a business consultant, a volunteer, a writer of historical fiction, a geographer, and I started a market research firm. I shut everything down and came back to school when I realized the library world can accommodate all of those things—and offer the nicest people besides.

I want to be involved with public libraries because they build communities as well as collections—an effort I’ll gladly join! I created tutorials for the Business Source Complete and Health Source: Consumer Edition databases.

Alison Hicks

I am originally from a small village in Somerset, South West UK; the closest town people might have heard of is Bristol. I completed my undergraduate degree in French and Spanish at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and after graduation I started working in an academic library in Argentina. I eventually came to the iSchool due to my interest in Latin American libraries, so I couldn’t have chosen much better than UT with the Nettie Lee Benson collection right here on campus! I was also attracted by the iSchool’s new digital library program. My main interests lie in digital and physical public services; my ideal job would be as some sort of reference and instruction librarian in academic library. After graduation, one of my main goals is to participate in a library exchange program in New Zealand. Eventually I’ll decide which continent to live on. . .

In my free time I like to hike, ski, and play netball—a sport that is similar to basketball, but is mostly played only in Commonwealth countries. I am looking forward to resuming these activities after my Texas-enforced hiatus. . .

For this project I worked on new tutorials for the Fuente Academica and Economia y Negocios databases.

Kathleen Houlihan

I am an Austinite who was initially interested in working on the preservation of the digital record here at the iSchool. Ultimately I shifted my focus because of my growing interest in public librarianship. In addition to my work in libraries, I am also a transportation cyclist, tri-athlete, and baker.

After I graduate, I’m planning a move to Portland, OR, where I want to serve my community as an IT Librarian and eventually move into library management. My dream is to be part of a nationwide shifting/re-branding of the image of the public library to keep it relevant and increase usage.

For this project, I worked on the Tech Team and was responsible for uploading the revisions made by team members to the site, as well as writing documentation to assist future Tech Team members in navigating the site. In addition to being a part of the Tech Team, the new content I contributed to this project includes the Bibliography of Native North Americans. I also revised Subject Pathfinders to Art and Art: Digital Art.

Kyla Kothman

I was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I moved to Flower Mound, TX when I was eight and lived there until I moved to Austin when I was eighteen. I took a two-year break after receiving my BA in English from the University of Texas. I wanted to work in public libraries as I love helping people find information; I wasn’t ready to leave Austin, so I ended up at UT again, where I have focused on public library work, especially reference and youth services. When I graduate I intend on working in a public or special library.

In addition to my library skills, I play the bassoon and the piano, as well as take pictures all the time (to the annoyance of everyone around me).

For this project I created tutorials for the Alt Health Watch and Health Source: Nursing/Academic databases.

Julia Mitschke

I grew up in several different places (Michigan, the Dominican Republic, Utah, and Brazil), but I have lived in Austin for many years now and feel like a native. I live in north Austin with my husband and a house full of pets. I really enjoy the Austin greenbelt and the great food and music available here.

I chose the iSchool after my undergrad education at UT in English and Women’s Studies. My subject interests at the iSchool have included reference, public libraries, youth services, and web design. I am hoping to find a position in reference and public services at an academic or public library when I graduate.

For this project I created a tutorial for the ERIC database, revised content for the Academic Search Complete tutorial, and I assisted with formatting and web development as part of the Tech Team. I have enjoyed learning more about the resources available through TexShare and hope that many small and rural public libraries can benefit from the tutorials and information created for them.

Loriene Roy

I was born in Cloquet, Minnesota, the oldest of eight children, and was raised in Carlton, Minnesota, population 810. I am Anishinabe, enrolled in the White Earth Reservation, and a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

I joined the UT faculty as an instructor in Spring 1987 and taught the graduate “Public Libraries” class. My interests at the iSchool include: working with master’s and doctoral students to develop their programs of studies; teaching four graduate classes a year; providing students with service learning opportunities, including Capstones and service within the American Library Association; writing grants; and writing in general. As I am not allowed to graduate, my experience here is a little like living in the movie, “Groundhog Day.” Hopefully I am improving in my work with students as I continue to learn with and from them.

For this project, I developed the Rural Bridge Planning Book and the first planning documents. I helped students identify their roles, including serving on the Tech Team, sign up to revise format and develop new content for the website, and provided contact with the staff at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

The Rural Bridge is a great project and a wonderful way for iSchool Students to participate in extending the TexShare community.

Wendy (Gwendolyn) Thompson

I am from Warner Robins, GA, which is about twenty miles south of Macon. As an undergraduate at the University of Georgia, I worked for two semesters as a Map Room assistant in the Science Library. I really loved it, so when I separated from the military in 2004, I applied to the iSchool, where my interests are Academic Libraries and government documents. After graduation, I hope to work either for the CIA or an academic library.

My hobbies include running and reading Stephen King novels—though not at the same time, of course. I added new content for the Legal Collection and Primary Source databases. I think the Bridge is a valuable tool that has the potential to be very useful if librarians and library workers were more aware of it.

Adriana Trujillo

I was born in Los Angeles, CA and lived there until I was seven. My family then moved to Roswell, NM, which is where I consider “home.” I am Hispanic and the first of my entire family to go to college and receive a B.A., and am now the first to pursue a Master’s. I hope to also be the first in my family to have received a Ph.D.

I ended up at the iSchool because after working in an academic library setting for a couple of years, I realized that I loved Library Land and wanted to stay. With the support of my supervisors, I have managed to attend graduate school on a part-time basis while working full-time. I am particularly interested in librarianship in an academic library. I tend to lean toward public services and therefore intend to go into reference—or better yet, instructional services. After graduation, I hope to stay in Texas and work at an academic library. My long-term goal is to eventually become an administrator.

Any hobbies or interests pertaining just to me are on hold while I raise two beautiful boys, ages ten and five, who are active in their school and in sports, train a beagle named Ranger, and oversee all the soccer equipment for the College Station Soccer Club.

The new content I contributed to this project are the tutorials for Newspaper Source and the Texas Reference Center. Before taking this class, I really was not aware of the Bridge and how useful and beneficial it is, not only to librarians, but to patrons. I know I will take a more active approach in advocating for the Bridge and doing whatever I can to promote it.