RAMble, the University Libraries' blog

FHG Library Second Floor Getting an Update!

12/12/2025

Kerry Walton

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FHG Space Refresh

Winter break will be a busy time on the second floor (east side) of FHG library. With the help of a generous donor, the area to the left of the help desk will be revitalized into an engaging student space. During that time, the space will be unavailable for studying or computer use. Activity will begin on Monday December 15 with the removal of computers. See the timeline below for more details.

Timeline

Date	Activity
December 15	Computers Removed
December 16 - 18	Space Cleared and Demo
December 19 - January 12	Construction
January 13	Space Cleaned
Week of January 26	Furniture Installation

  Floor Plan, Furniture, and Finishes

Picture of new floor plan, furniture, and finishes.

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Subjects

Anthropology & Sociology

Recent Posts

FHG Library Second Floor Getting an Update!

FHG Space Refresh Winter break will be a busy time on the second floor (east side) of FHG library. With the help of a generous donor, the area to the left of the help desk will be revitalized into an engaging student space. During that time, the space will be unavailable for studying or computer use. Activity will begin on Monday December 15 with the removal of computers. See the timeline below for more details. Timeline Date Activity December 15 Computers Removed December 16 - 18 Space Cleared and Demo December 19 - January 12 Construction January 13 Space Cleaned Week of January 26 Furniture Installation Floor Plan, Furniture, and Finishes ...

Grace Liu Develops Leadership Collection

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Titles span areas such as: General Leadership Foundations – Core leadership principles, practices, and theories Emotional Intelligence and Leading Teams – Building trust, managing conflict, and leading diverse groups Networking and Relationship Building – Expanding influence and cultivating meaningful professional connections Productivity, Time Management, and Habits – Developing practical skills for productivity and building good habits Growth Mindset, Grit, and Resilience – Developing perseverance, adaptability, and navigating uncertainty and change Judgment, Ethics, and Critical Thinking – Leading with integrity, fairness, and sound reasoning Purpose, Meaning, and Values – Connecting leadership to purpose, meaning, and personal values Mental Health and Wellbeing – Managing stress, burnout, and self-care as a leader Self-Awareness and Human Flourishing – Exploring personal growth and building character Together, these themes reflect a vision of leadership that is holistic, inclusive, and deeply connected to human flourishing. 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By curating resources that address both external leadership skills and internal character development, the collection prepares students not only for academic success but also for personal and professional excellence. These collections are not just for students; faculty, staff, and administrators can all make good use of the collection for their personal and professional development. Hopefully, the collection can help cultivate leadership as both a skill set and a mindset that empowers every member of the campus community. An Invitation to Engage The Leadership Collection creates opportunities for programming, partnerships, and engagement. Faculty may incorporate these resources into their leadership courses. Staff may use them to enhance training and professional development initiatives. Student organizations may draw on them for workshop ideas and discussions. Students may enjoy the reading for self-improvement and personal growth. As the collection grows and adapts to emerging needs, it will continue to inspire learning and connection across the university. Cultivating leadership is central to a flourishing life and a thriving community—when students develop the skills to lead with integrity, resilience, and vision, they not only succeed individually but also strengthen our communities. With this in mind, the University Libraries invite all students, faculty, and staff to explore the Leadership Collection and enjoy an ongoing journey of reading, learning, and growth. ...

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Staff Updates: New Beginnings and Exciting Transitions

We’re thrilled to share some exciting employee updates in University Libraries! In this feature, we are highlighting several staff members who are either joining us for the first time or stepping into new roles. Each member brings fresh energy, valuable experience, and a shared commitment to serving our campus community. Read on to learn more about these talented individuals and help us celebrate their new beginnings and continued growth at West Chester University Libraries! Rebecca Condliffe Library Assistant 1, Special Collections What interested you in your new role and what are you most looking forward to? I've just started my new role is the LA1 in Special Collections. My fascination with historical documents and objects makes this feel like a natural fit. Whenever I travel, I try to seek out the "treasure" room of the local library - whether at the New York Public Library or the British Library. I feel like these items give a unique insight into the mindset of people who lived through world events. So, I'm very excited to be working in the heart of WCU's own "treasures"! Learning how to curate and preserve unique objects is one of the things I'm looking forward to in my new role. I want to discover voices and stories from the past which can illuminate our present-day circumstances. I'm also hoping to uncover some gaps in our collections which might point to groups that have been silenced or overlooked, to grant them their rightful space. And I'm eager to work with Ron, Taylor and the talented student workers, of course! What's something about University Libraries that kept you here? It's a cliché but I honestly feel that the best thing about UL is the people - the students are so upbeat and unfailingly friendly. A highlight for me over the last few years has been when I meet a student who is new to the library, and I can be the first to show them everything that we have to offer! Is there something about your summer you'd like to share? In January we took a "trip of a lifetime" to Singapore, Australia and New Zealand - so my summer plans were understandably more low key! Charlotte, my eldest daughter (and a recent WCU grad!) was busy working at the GSK labs while finishing her MS degree in Bioinformatics, while my younger daughter, Abigail, started at her new job in NYC at Bloomingdale's corporate offices. To fill the void in the house Simon and I foolishly adopted a pair of 8-week-old kittens! They are named Roger and Rafa (we're big tennis fans) and I can attest that they need constant monitoring! John Davis Library Assistant 1, Public Services Where are you joining us from? I’m situated in West Philly, though I spent much of my life in South Central PA. What are your areas of academic and/or library interest or expertise? I’ve gained experience in both academic and public library settings. A few library interests I’ve picked up include special collections, archives, and community engagement. I studied international relations in college, and some of my academic interests include political science, history, anthropology, and geology. What’s a fun fact or hobby you enjoy outside of work? Last summer I took a cross-country road trip from Pennsylvania to California, stopping to check out national parks like New River Gorge, Mammoth Caves, Arches, and Zion. If you ever need camping recommendations around Moab, Utah, let me know! Leigh Dawson (she/her) Student Employment Program Library Technician, Public Services Adjunct Research Librarian What interested you in your new role, and what are you most looking forward to? Before beginning my journey in the library world, I spent 20 years as an educator and student teaching supervisor. My passion lies in helping learners build strong foundations while fostering resilience and personal growth. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on preparing students for success beyond graduation. In my new role, I’m excited to blend my teaching experience with my growing library expertise to continue supporting student development. One of my key goals is to expand and enrich our student employment program. I look forward to collaborating with stakeholders across the Libraries and our partner agencies to enhance the student employee experience. What’s something about the University Libraries that kept you here? The people! I have the pleasure of working with some of the most dedicated and thoughtful people. Over the last 3 years, I have found a kind of home here in the Libraries. And you all are amazing! I look forward to spending more time with you, volunteering, working on committees, reading books, solving problems, and spreading joy. Is there something about your summer you’d like to share? This summer flew by! Our youngest turned 13, so we have 4 teenagers for the next 9 months when our oldest turns 20. They kept busy with jobs, sports, and various activities, but we were fortunate to carve out time for family trips to Oregon and Wisconsin. Both trips provided much-needed time to reconnect, visit with extended family, and relax. Julia Doelling, MSIS (she/her) Digital Initiatives Librarian, Assistant Professor Where are you joining us from? I'm coming from Austin, Texas where I was previously working at The University of Texas libraries. What are your areas of academic and/or library interest or expertise? Broadly, I'm interested in digital collections and digital humanities! More specifically, I'm interested in ways that online collections can be made more usable, particularly through browsability, and interactivity. I'm also interested in making digital scholarship (anything from working with digital collections to tools to digital literacy) seem more approachable to audiences who may find the topic intimidating through workshops, instruction, or just easier to navigate collections. What’s a fun fact or hobby you enjoy outside of work? Outside of work I've recently picked up crochet again and am currently working on a blanket! I also enjoy cooking, reading, and pottery. Evan Gerstenkorn Library Assistant 1, Public Services Where are you joining us from? I am a recent WCU graduate (Spring 2025) living in West Chester, PA. I also work part-time as a Library Assistant at the West Chester Public Library. What are your areas of academic and/or library interest or expertise? Beyond starting my graduate degree program at Rutgers University this fall for Library & Information Science, I am currently interested in queer studies, Native American studies/literature, science fiction, artificial intelligence, and intellectual freedom. What’s a fun fact or hobby you enjoy outside of work? I am a huge Star Wars fan - movies, tv shows, books, comics - I enjoy it all! Hunter King (he/him) Library Technician | Interlibrary Loan What interested you in your new role, and what are you most looking forward to? What interested me the most was the opportunity to learn something new and to serve the WCU community in way that I hoped would allow me to make a more immediate impact on supporting research and student success campus wide. I’ve been a huge fan of the ILL service, often borrowing multiple books at a time on any number of subjects that may interest me. Although I will miss working at the Presser Music Library, I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of another great team in the Interlibrary Loan department. What’s something about the University Libraries that kept you here? I love the culture and the people! Not only at in the University Libraries, but all over campus. I feel like the work that we do here is important, and that we are making a difference in young people’s lives. I Love working at WCU and I can’t wait to see my daughter’s enrolled here eventually. Is there something about your summer you’d like to share? It went SO fast! It’s been great working with Annette, Callie, and Mina here in the ILL office. They’ve been so welcoming and helpful to me as I transition into this new role. Thank you all so much! I really appreciate it! Taylor Schuler (she/they) Special Collections Technician Where are you joining us from? I live in West Philly now after having just moved from Houston, Texas this summer where I lived for the last four years. I've also lived in Florida and New York, though I'm excited to make PA my new home. What are your areas of academic and/or library interest or expertise? I hold a BFA in Theatre Arts: Acting from Adelphi University and will complete my MLS with an Archives and Records Management concentration from North Carolina Central University this fall. I've worked in libraries and archives since 2016, with experience in public libraries, university archives, and museums. Most recently, I was the Library and Archival Manager at a county historical museum in Angleton, Texas. What’s a fun fact or hobby you enjoy outside of work? In my personal life, I enjoy spending time at home watching reality TV with my husband, Isaiah, and my "zoo" of two tuxedo cats, a miniature lop rabbit, a Kenyan sand boa, a White's tree frog, and a betta fish." Jennifer Slagus, PhD, MLIS (they/them) Social Sciences Librarian, Assistant Professor Where are you joining us from? I’m joining from University of South Florida Libraries where I was a Visiting Assistant Librarian supporting the humanities and social sciences. What are your areas of academic and/or library interest or expertise? My research focuses on the social, cultural, and political contexts of neurodivergent representation in twenty-first century middle grade literature (for 8-12-year-old readers). I use critical neurodiversity studies frameworks to interrogate representation and the book publishing industry’s part in its creation. I’m also interested in archival research, using games-based pedagogy to teach information literacy, and understanding the intersection between autistic and academic librarian burnout. What’s a fun fact or hobby you enjoy outside of work? I’m multiply-neurodivergent (autistic with ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and spatial-sequence synesthesia) and most of my hobbies include watching or playing tabletop/video games. ...

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