spotlight on: Renee Remlinger return to other professionals
Current Position:
Assistant Librarian at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, which is a business-to-business bank known for its funding projects and affordable housing efforts.
Previous Positions: Most recently I was a Browse Developer at Amazon.com, where I constructed controlled vocabularies for new product category launches. Prior to that I provided secondary research on a freelance basis for Starbucks and was a contract Information Specialist at ZymoGenetics. I graduated from the Information School's MLIS program in 2002.
Your primary responsibilities:
Reference and research; cataloging and collection development; Web content development; and library systems management. I provide reference and research services to staff and bank members using a variety of print and online resources. Web development includes creating, developing and maintaining the content of the library's pages on our company's Web site as well as on our corporate Intranet. I also develop and catalog the collection as well as maintain the library's systems, performing upgrades, troubleshooting and resolving vendor issues.
The knowledge and skills required to do your job:
Knowledge of business, banking and finance concepts; print and electronic business information resources; secondary research; reference and customer service; information organization; community analysis; project management and verbal and written communication. Proficiency with MS Office; HTML; library automation software; OCLC; online resources such as Factiva, Lexis-Nexis, ProQuest and Dialog and online searching.
Classes you took in library school that you found most useful:
All of them, especially Information Behavior, Community Analysis, Cataloging, Indexing, Construction of Indexing Languages, Information Access in Business, Database Design, Management, Special Libraries, Usability Testing and Directed Fieldwork. Also, conducting fieldwork for Seattle Public Library and volunteering for King County Library System's Netmaster program were excellent teaching experiences.
Other information regarding your professional background that will help students gain a better idea of what it takes and what it means to pursue a career in special libraries:
My background includes 10 years of managing projects and client relationships as a new business/marketing manager and project manager in the branding and design field. Understanding marketing and how to connect with audiences is essential to being a successful librarian.
Keeping an open mind about how I can apply my knowledge and skills in the information field has led me to interesting work experiences and helped me develop professionally. Also, actively participating in the Special Libraries Association, attending local and national conferences and networking with other professionals have been extremely valuable as I refine my career interests.
(January 2004)