Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Affiliations
Timeline
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Nell Fleming

Beloit,WI

Summary

Experienced librarian with a strong foundation in serving underserved communities, statewide outreach, K-12 library services, and community engagement. Practical, hands-on leadership style with strengths in collection development, programming, archival management, and accessibility. Passionate about literacy, lifelong learning, and inclusive service to diverse user communities. Fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and a long-time public library advocate and board leader dedicated to fostering meaningful partnerships, responsible fiscal oversight, and responsive library service. Skilled library professional with a focus on information organization, digital cataloging, and community engagement. Proven ability to collaborate effectively within teams and adapt to changing needs while achieving targeted outcomes. Expertise in managing collections, conducting research, and providing exceptional user services. Reliable, flexible, and ready to make a significant impact.

Overview

33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Librarian

Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD)
01.2010 - Current
  • Leads all library operations for the Wisconsin School for the Deaf and Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WESP-DHH) Statewide Outreach.
  • Coordinates with school personnel to strengthen literacy outcomes and support student success.
  • Manages two specialized library collections: K–12 school library; lending library supporting educators and families across Wisconsin.
  • Provides direct instruction in literacy and research skills for students in elementary through high school, including Step program students.
  • Supports inclusive programming as Battle of the Books coach and middle school track coach.
  • Serves as WSD Museum curator and archivist; maintains and interprets historic materials for school and public use.
  • Coordinates interlibrary loan services and supports statewide accessibility in information sharing.

Trustee & President

Aram Public Library Board
01.2012 - 01.2018
  • Served two terms on the Library Board, including as President.
  • Oversaw budgeting, policy updates, and director support during periods of operational and leadership transition.
  • Advocated for community library services and supported local partnerships and Friends fundraising efforts.

Racial Justice Coordinator

YWCA
01.2009 - 06.2010


  • Member of the hate crimes task force
  • Created opportunities for community conversations about race
  • Entered data, generated reports, and produced tracking documents.
  • Improved team productivity with regular communication and progress updates, fostering a collaborative work environment.
  • Enhanced operational workflows by maintaining well-organized documentation systems and updating records accurately as needed.


Librarian (Americorps VISTA)

Step by Step
01.2009 - 12.2009
  • Installed an open source library catalog, KOHA, and inventoried the entire library.
  • Catalogued and organized books, materials and other documents for proper library management.
  • Researched and acquired new library materials to maintain updated library collection.
  • Trained staff, volunteers and other personnel to maintain sustainable services after my term was up.
  • My budget was $0 dollars, it was up to me to figure it out without funding.
  • Gathered and organized materials and redistributed them to support Operation Read West Virginia.

Teaching Assistant/Interpreter

Metcalf Lab School
01.2006 - 01.2007
  • Interpreted for Deaf students during library activities and general instruction.

Freelance ASL Interpreter

01.2000 - 01.2006
  • Freelance ASL interpreting through CAIRS/CHS/JVS/LCIL
  • Provided professional interpreting services in educational, medical, and public settings.

Flight Attendant

United Airlines
05.1999 - 04.2004
  • Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability amidst schedule changes, delays, or challenging situations while maintaining a positive attitude.
  • Maintained a safe cabin environment by conducting pre-flight safety checks and adhering to FAA regulations.
  • Handled medical emergencies calmly and competently following established protocols while liaising with the cockpit crew as needed.
  • Enhanced passenger satisfaction by providing exceptional in-flight service and addressing individual needs.

Coordinator of Leisure Services for Deaf Individuals

NEDSRA
01.1994 - 01.1999
  • Designed, marketed, and evaluated inclusive recreation programs.
  • Hired and supervised interpreters and signing program leaders.
  • Managed adaptive transportation and created the “Deaf Actors Guild” youth program.

Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Northwest Illinois Association
01.1993 - 01.1994

Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Kankakee Special Education Cooperative
01.1992 - 01.1993

Education

Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) - Library & Information Science

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
01.2014

Master of Library Science (MLS) - LEEP Program

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
01.2009

Interpreter Training Program

William Rainey Harper College
Palatine, IL
01.2002

Bachelors - Deaf Education

Illinois State University
Normal, IL
01.1992

Skills

  • Statewide Resource Sharing
  • Library Operations & Outreach
  • Public Library Board Governance
  • Collection Development & Interlibrary Loan
  • Staff Support & Mentorship
  • Community Engagement & Programming
  • Grant Support & Fundraising Collaboration
  • Organizational skills
  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Problem-solving skills

Accomplishments

  • Earned Nomination for the Virginia Hart Special Recognition Award for accomplishments of an "unsung hero".
  • Secured a $6,000 IMLS project grant to support the library's historic newspapers digitization project for Aram Public Library/Wisconsin. School for the Deaf partnership.
  • Documented and resolved [Issue] which led to [Results].
  • Added hundreds of new materials to improve library collection deficits in literature which feature representation of African American, Native Nations, and LGBTQ persons and discarded outdated titles.
  • Spearheaded and directed the relocating, updating and reopening of the WSD Deaf History Museum, comprised of five exhibit rooms, and three storage spaces.

Certification

Leadership Development Institute – Wisconsin Library Association, 2017

Affiliations

  • American Library Association Member – 2007–Present
  • Caldecott Committee Member - 2025
  • Wisconsin Library Association Member – 2012–Present
  • Literary Awards Committee Chair/Co-Chair – 2023–2024
  • Chair/Officer – Various WLA Units - 2012–2017
  • Outreach Services Roundtable (OSRT), Resource Sharing Roundtable (RSRT), and the Association of Wisconsin Special Librarians (AWSL).

Timeline

Trustee & President

Aram Public Library Board
01.2012 - 01.2018

Librarian

Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD)
01.2010 - Current

Racial Justice Coordinator

YWCA
01.2009 - 06.2010

Librarian (Americorps VISTA)

Step by Step
01.2009 - 12.2009

Teaching Assistant/Interpreter

Metcalf Lab School
01.2006 - 01.2007

Freelance ASL Interpreter

01.2000 - 01.2006

Flight Attendant

United Airlines
05.1999 - 04.2004

Coordinator of Leisure Services for Deaf Individuals

NEDSRA
01.1994 - 01.1999

Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Northwest Illinois Association
01.1993 - 01.1994

Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Kankakee Special Education Cooperative
01.1992 - 01.1993

Master of Library Science (MLS) - LEEP Program

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Interpreter Training Program

William Rainey Harper College

Bachelors - Deaf Education

Illinois State University

Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) - Library & Information Science

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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