Lauren Douglass
Library Manager
East Lansing,MI
Summary
Veteran library manager with over 20 years of experience leading library departments and staff. Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external customers and stakeholders. Skilled project manager with a talent for improving operations and supporting new programs and initiatives. Experienced program planner and community liaison. Extensive experience with budget planning, scheduling staff and implementing and monitoring organizational strategic priorities. Demonstrated success as a supervisor, trainer, and mentor for both technical and non-technical staff.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Director of IT & Support Services
West Bloomfield Township Public Library
05.2023 - Current
- Manage the IT and Support Services departments including supervision of staff, vendor liaison relationships, procurement management, and strategic goal planning and monitoring.
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Budget development and granular budget tracking for two departmental budgets totaling over $500,000.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Chair the Technology Committee at WBTPL which oversees the execution of the library's 10 year technology plan.
Partnership Development Lead
BiblioCommons
09.2022 - Current
- Develop and nurture relationships with multiple stakeholders at potential customer libraries.
- Maintain expert level knowledge of BiblioCommons products, the library technology marketplace and trends in the world of public libraries.
- Meet quarterly and yearly sales goals.
- Collaborate with other BiblioCommons staff to create marketing content.
Data and Implementation Support Specialist
Patron Point, Inc.
10.2021 - 09.2022
- Manage data profiling, integration and maintenance for partner libraries using AWS and the library ILS.
- Work with partner libraries to update and monitor data stores.
- Install new library marketing and automation products providing project management services to customer libraries.
- Provide front line tech support for member libraries.
- Provide expert level support and coaching for various Integrated Library Systems platforms.
- Collaborate with partner libraries to create strategies to better market their services to library patrons.
Head of Technology Services
East Lansing Public Library
09.2008 - 09.2021
- Oversaw workflows, budgets, expenditures, and outcomes of Technology Services department, including library collections spending, ILS expenditures, and public computing and ancillary technology spending.
- Systems administrator for library’s enterprise software systems including New World ERP, Sierra ILS, BiblioCore discovery layer, MeLCat Inn-Reach system, RFID tagging infrastructure and Bibliotheca self-service machines, BiblioWeb website and staff intranet, PC management systems, self-service technology, and mobile technology lab.
- Planned and executed STEM programming for all ages.
- Served as community liaison for ELPL Maker Studio programs, initiatives and community partnerships.
- Supervised, trained, evaluated, and mentored library staff (1FTE librarian, 1 FTE Maker Studio associate, and 2 0.5FTE technical assistants) on technical services workflows and procedures, tech topics, accessibility and content moderation.
- Webmaster and content creator and administrator for library's website and staff intranet. Authored content creation guidelines for other staff, reviewed and curated content.
- Provided excellent customer service and tech support to internal and external stakeholders and library patrons of varying technical abilities.
- Project Manager for all software and hardware implementations.
- Collaborated with community stakeholders, other libraries and library organizations to build mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Library point of expertise for accessibility issues, SEO best practices.
- Created workflows and procedures for IT systems in all library departments and provided support for managers and staff working in those areas.
- Liaison with City of East Lansing IT staff to maintain network and server security and other technology infrastructure.
- Harvested, organized, archived and analyzed data generated by library systems and utilized that information to generate reports, recommendations and analysis for library staff, Library Director and Library Board of Trustees.
- Vendor contact for all library systems including documentation, problem resolution, acquisition, installation and support of new services or products.
- Created and disseminated technology training documentation in multiple formats and gathered feedback from patrons and staff to improve technology training opportunities for all stakeholders.
Digital Services Specialist
East Lansing Public Library
04.2005 - 09.2008
- Systems administrator for Dynix and III ILS, Encore discovery layer, HTML based website, and public print and PC management systems.
- Project manager for migration to new library enterprise system. Project was completed on time and on budget.
- Responsible for acquisition, installation, maintenance, and promotion of library’s electronic resources.
Head of Circulation
McHenry Library, UC Santa Cruz
05.2001 - 06.2003
- Manage McHenry Library Circulation Department, supervising 6 FTE para-pros and 50+ student assistants.
- Oversee Circulation modules of III ILS, create and document procedures, train and supervise Access Services staff using III system and work with III administrators on problem resolution and maintenance of system.
- Serve as a member of McHenry Library’s Innopac Users Group to coordinate processes and procedures, implement changes to Innopac modules and install new III based services.
- Provide technical assistance to students, faculty and staff of UC Santa Cruz using library’s proxy access system, PHAROS public computing and printing systems and Melvyl requesting system.
Stacks Supervisor
McHenry Library, UC Santa Cruz
07.1997 - 05.2001
- Manage McHenry Library Stacks Department, supervising 1 FTE para-pros and 50+ student assistants.
- Manage McHenry Library general stacks collection, encompassing more than 800,000 volumes.
Education
No Degree - Biological Sciences - 180 Credits Earned
University of California - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA 10.1993 - 06.1997
Skills
Budget Planning, Administration and Tracking
Library Supervisor
Program Planning and Community Liaison
Library Operations Administration
Training and Development
Public Service Professional
Timeline
Director of IT & Support Services
West Bloomfield Township Public Library
05.2023 - Current
Partnership Development Lead
BiblioCommons
09.2022 - Current
Data and Implementation Support Specialist
Patron Point, Inc.
10.2021 - 09.2022
Head of Technology Services
East Lansing Public Library
09.2008 - 09.2021
Digital Services Specialist
East Lansing Public Library
04.2005 - 09.2008
Head of Circulation
McHenry Library, UC Santa Cruz
05.2001 - 06.2003
Stacks Supervisor
McHenry Library, UC Santa Cruz
07.1997 - 05.2001
No Degree - Biological Sciences - 180 Credits Earned
University of California - Santa Cruz
10.1993 - 06.1997
Similar Profiles
Melissa NewtonMelissa Newton
Circulation Supervisor at Free Public Library of Monroe TownshipCirculation Supervisor at Free Public Library of Monroe Township
William R. Ochoa OchoaWilliam R. Ochoa Ochoa
Librarian Assistant at Clinton Township Public LibraryLibrarian Assistant at Clinton Township Public Library
Deepmala SharmaDeepmala Sharma
Library Assistant Volunteer at Whitehall Township Public LibraryLibrary Assistant Volunteer at Whitehall Township Public Library
Brady LeeBrady Lee
Window Cleaner at College Window ProsWindow Cleaner at College Window Pros
Natalie BarnettNatalie Barnett
Cashier/Fullfillment at TargetCashier/Fullfillment at Target