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Meet the Team
Berit Nelson
Vice President of Library RelationsFor Berit Nelson, the pursuit of library science began on the path to law school when she talked to a law librarian and found herself drawn to the information side of the industry. Perhaps serendipitously – we like to think so – her plans detoured once again in the library science program when she found herself gravitating more toward the automation and programming courses.
The rest was history, and she’s been bridging specialties every since, translating library needs into SirsiDynix action items to improve the way libraries function.
“Our job with customers is so interactive – working with them to find smarter, more creative ways to serve their communities. I find it very fulfilling.”
Judith Tigner
Education Services DirectorOne of Judith Tigner's earliest memories is of going to story hour every week at the 41st Avenue Library and being told by the librarian, "You'll work here some day." As fate would have it, at the age of 16 and needing a job, she did.
"I worked there for four years and because of that wonderful experience, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the small public library branch and what they bring to their community."
Judith has been an active contributor to the library industry ever since. During her 18 years at SirsiDynix, she's served customer libraries, working in retrospective conversion, client care, project management, and now consulting and education services.
Kathi Adams
Senior Library Relations Manager (North America)Kathi Adams, currently a senior library relations manager, joined SirsiDynix in 1993. During her time with the company, she has held multiple positions in SirsiDynix operations and sales, but says library relations has been her favorite role of her career so far. Kathi has 17 years of library industry experience.
Anne Arthur
Manager, ILS Product ManagementYou may not know Anne Arthur personally, but if you've used a SirsiDynix product, you've likely felt her influence. No, she's not an engineer. Anne is the librarian behind the library solution products and, thus, the unofficial head of the SirsiDynix Symphony development team.
Anne began working at the St. Louis County Library when she was in high school - an experience she describes as "life-changing." Now she's on the other side of the table creating the solutions that make libraries run better.
"Our biggest focus is on what the people in the libraries want. We do a lot of listening so we can create the perfect solution. We want them to love it. We want them to use it. It's exciting."
Reed Farnsworth
Knowledge Base AnalystWhen appointed to his new position as knowledge base analyst, Reed Farnsworth already had an idea of where to start his work. As a former trainer and member of the client care and documentation teams - and before that, a math and science teacher - he knows a thing or two about answering questions.
"As a teacher, you learn that you don't want to explain so clearly that it can be understood. Rather, you want to make information so clear that it cannot be misunderstood. That's what I want with the knowledge base."
Reed works to ensure that when a customer searches the knowledge base, they don't get overwhelmed with too many results, or too few, but find just the answer they need.
Ron Steckler
Education ConsultantAs a member of the SirsiDynix education services team, Ron Steckler takes pride in being part of the implementations process for new and existing library customers. In conjunction with a team of top-notch project managers and data experts, Ron works to ensure library staff are prepared to successfully use their software from day one.
Having worked as a school library specialist and in SirsiDynix customer support, project management and consulting, Ron understands the day-to-day activities of a library to put the training in context.
“I think the librarians really appreciate the depth of experience of our trainers. I’ve had people come back to me afterward and thank us for the extra time spent answering their questions.”
Darron Isobe, MLS
Senior Application Support SpecialistDarron has worked with SirsiDynix technical support for 23 years. He remembers the days when the client care team — all six of them — occupied one room. Since then, he has closed more than 20,000 customer support calls, and says that every day he strives to carry on the same tradition of excellent customer care that was instilled in him from day one.
As one of SirsiDynix's first employees, he's developed a first-name basis level of trust with the librarians he serves.
"When you've been around as long as I have, you build that kind of relationship."
Darron works as a reference librarian in his spare time.
Ken Bonney
Training & Education Services SupervisorMuch like the librarians he serves, Ken Bonney is a fanatical record keeper. Over his 12 years in the industry, he can tell you he’s traveled 615,000 miles and spent 869 nights in hotels for SirsiDynix libraries. He can list the cities they’re in, and — after consulting his detailed folders of documentation — recite back minute details of individual visits, often down to the name of the sandwich he ordered for lunch. He may even tell you the name of the sandwich you ordered.
The most common experience documented among his 201 (and counting) training visits, however, is the one that keeps him going.
"People want to be reassured that they can do it; they want to have the confi dence that they can do it. I’m the guy that ’s going to stay until you show me you can."
Pam Arnold
Senior Library Relations Manager (North America)Though her official title is senior library relations manager, Pam Arnold thinks of her work as library advocacy. As for her day-to-day responsibilities, it’s all based on the immediate needs of the libraries she serves.
"No two libraries are alike. Each library is an individual, and so their needs are, too."
Perhaps the one exception to this, she says, is that all libraries want to give their users the best service they can give them. This is a goal Pam shares with her libraries. As a result, every day – like every library – is a little different. But Pam wouldn’t have it any other way.
Mike Daly
Mobile Technology EngineerWhen Mike Daly joined SirsiDynix in 2008, mobile technology was on the rise. Today that rise continues, bringing exciting opportunities for libraries and their users.
“Mobile access is everything. For me, I’m always connected. And as a patron, I want that same access at my public library”
Mike and the BookMyne™ team enable that access, delivering the best in mobile discovery, sharing and services for library users. With the release of BookMyne 3.0 this month, SirsiDynix library users gain Project Gutenberg e-book delivery to both iPhone and Android mobile devices. Libraries win, too, with a new library-customizable interface that personalizes the library experience for the on-the-go user. And with mobile technology growing like it is, that’s a lot of users.
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