Tech-Tastic Librarian 

Welcome!  It has been a crazy journey to get here.  But it's about the journey, not the destination.  From all the years I worked in museums, to libraries for big people and small, and now in an elementary technology classroom.  Each area has given me a wonderful perspective and led me to my next challenge or opportunity to grow and change.  I have met so many wonderful and amazing people along the way who influenced and changed me.  They have been the best gifts this journey has given me.   My greatest hope is that I have done that even once for someone I have met along the way.  

Kate Shaw OIender

ISTE Certification, 2022

Masters of Education, Library Teacher, 2016  -  Cambridge College, Springfield, MA

Masters of Library Science, Academic Librarian, 1998 - Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

Masters of Art, Art History, 1995 - Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts    

Bachelor of Arts, Art History, 1992 - Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts

Current Memberships:  CSTA-MA (Board Member 2025 - ), CSforMA and ISTE, Member of Massachusetts Department of

 Elementary and Secondary Education AI Task Force (2024- )

Where I am and where I have been

Lenox Public Schools, Morris Elementary School, Lenox, MA 2019 - Current

Technology Teacher

I have been a technology teacher for Lenox’s Morris Elementary School since 2019.  I work with grades Pre-K to Grade 5.  My curriculum is based on the Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards and ISTE Standards.  I developed a curriculum that has three components/units:  digital citizenship, research/digital literacy, and coding/robotics.  My students use Google Apps, Google Docs, Slides, Forms, Drawing, and several other ed tech tools to create artifacts to show their knowledge.   In addition to using Google and other online tools, my curriculum for upper-level students uses, MakeyMakeys, Micro:bits, Hummingbirds, Ozobots, Kibos and Lego Robotics to teach coding and computational thinking skills.  Younger grades use Kibos, BeeBots, Ozobots, Micro:bits, and Lego Robotics to practice problem-solving skills and computational thinking skills. 

I worked with faculty during the lockdown to get webpages active with their curriculum to allow them to work with students remotely.   I worked with a county-wide group of educators (BRLI) to assist faculty to use the Canvas LMS during our hybrid sessions.  I continue to work with this group on professional development opportunities for myself and my faculty.  I applied for and managed a grant through the BRLI to create a workgroup of mentor teachers in my school.   Through this grant, I also organized a county-wide professional development half-day conference.  I continue to offer support to all staff in using Google Apps, Canvas, and other ed tech tools.  

Lee Public Schools, Lee, MA 2012 - 2019

Librarian/School Media Specialist and Technology Teacher

For the last two years, I was the district library and technology integration specialist for Lee Public Schools. I continued my elementary school program and also worked with the students and faculty of the middle and high schools.  In middle and high school, I taught informational literacy classes on an as-needed basis.  I managed the library media center and purchased materials (print and electronic) to support faculty and students. I created web pages of resources for research projects and supplied ILL services for teachers and students.  I worked with faculty to locate and use technology in their classroom to enhance their curriculum.  I produced a district-wide monthly technology flyer with web tools and hints for teachers.  I developed “menus” of tools to help students and faculty differentiate their curriculum.  I looked for technologies, such as VR and Rocketbooks, which could make  curriculum richer and more exciting for students.

For the first six years, I worked exclusively in elementary school.  The elementary school student body is approximately 400 students from pre-K to sixth grade.  Each student has a library class once a week.  I developed a curriculum that encompasses both informational and digital literacy for all seven grades based on ISTE and state standards.  The technology skill includes scratch programming where the students begin to understand the concepts of simple programming needed to create simple video games.  I have also used code.org to introduce coding to the younger grades.  My classes learned how to use a variety of web tools to create informational graphics and videos that students use to present information in different ways.  I covered the ethical and responsible manner of using technology.   We discussed the safety issues that arise from using technology and how to use technology safely.  We became a Google school three years ago and I grew my curriculum to include using Google Apps from Google Drawing to Google Sheets.  I have also developed professional development for faculty and worked with faculty to find classroom tools using extensions, websites, and apps.  I created a summer technology professional development session which I have run for the past two years.    

I participated on the district-wide technology committee which proposed budget, policy, long-range planning, and advocacy.  I managed several of the elementary school databases, setting up classes, managing subscriptions, and troubleshooting throughout the year.  I maintained the faculty calendar and school blog.  I assisted faculty in locating and using technology in their classrooms.

The JFK Middle School Library, Northampton, MA  2010-2011

Librarian, School Media Specialist

Work with a student body of approximately 700 students consisting of grades six through eight.  As the only librarian at the JFK School, I was responsible for all collection development, programming, and instruction.  I developed a research skills program to evolve over three years for the students beginning with sixth grade and finishing during eighth grade. Built upon an existing orientation program for the sixth grade to create an intensive seven-prong orientation: familiarize students with the layout of the library, differences between fiction and non-fiction, how to look up books, general knowledge of our databases, and the structure of resources citations and bibliographies.  During research projects in all grades, I taught the processes of research and academic integrity in regard to research.  This program involved research skills such as developing questions, locating resources, organizing note-taking, evaluating resources, and citing all materials to create a bibliography. I discussed books, encyclopedias, magazine, database, and web resources and all their strengths and limitations.  I worked with a faculty member over the summer to integrate the library skills goals I have established into their social studies curriculum.

Gather and present statistics on the circulation of materials and interpret them as needed.  As a result of looking at past statistics, I developed a program to increase the use of the reading collection by seventh and eighth-grade students.  I wrote, distributed, and quantified answers from a survey to the students to determine what I could do to develop a collection students would want to use.  I worked with the High School Librarian to choose a new circulation/online catalog which was more user-friendly and took advantage of web 2.0 technologies.  I was responsible for implementing, promoting, and training others in the use of this new system.  I collaborated with the public library to bring services into the school – such as e-books and audiobooks.  I worked with the local library to establish an interlibrary loan program using state-wide resources.  I worked with teachers to turn their various research resources into library web pages.  These pages listed all the resources in a uniform manner with citation information and all passwords needed to access the resources. I collaborated with the PTO to organize the Book Fair and hosted a Family Night featuring Norton Juster as a guest speaker.   In addition, I worked with students who came into the library to use our computers, troubleshooting printing documents, locate information, and other using word processing programs.

Massachusetts College of Art, Godine Library, Boston, Massachusetts   2000 – 2010

Public Services Librarian, Coordinator of Reference Services

Assisted undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and staff in locating various levels of information for assignments and projects. Primary librarian in reference services and responsible for coordinating services for the library.  This included developing a reference schedule for coverage of the reference desk and working with staff members on reference skills. Created and maintain a reference binder with resource guides, telephone numbers, websites, and other helpful information to assist staff members when they are at the reference desk.  Developed reference guides or pathfinders for patrons, which include print resources, online databases, and web resources.  Responsible for creating and maintaining the research portion of the library website.   I am one of three librarians teaching information literacy sessions and promoting information literacy initiatives within the college.  Work with Circulation Staff on the circulation desk and on access service projects, such as fines and ILL.  I worked with other libraries in our consortia to implement federated searching.  This included all setting up for our college and creating search sets for our patrons.  I was responsible for implementing the federated searching software, Metalib.  I have supervised the Computer Lab/Circulation Manager since 2005.  We were a team-managed library and I sat on the management team from 2000-2008.  Participated in all staff meetings where all library-wide decisions have been made since 2008.  Responsible for collecting in reference, art history, and liberal arts and am the liaison with the art history and liberal arts departments.

In 2004, I split my job in half and gave up the responsibility for coordinating Instruction Services. Other responsibilities I have had in the past 10 years include the following. Oversaw Interlibrary Loan services and supervised a full-time library assistant who performed ILL functions and oversaw the circulation desk during afternoon/evening hours (00-06). Supervised evening circulation supervisor (01-05). Maintained the Library budget, including creating and updating the spreadsheet, preparing payment requests, and reconciling monthly accounts (01-06). Represented the Library on the college-wide strategic planning committee to develop a five-year strategic plan for the college (2003.) Organized and ran the monthly FLO Public Services Committee for all consortia members (2002.) Member of college-wide Orientation Committee (04-05.) Head of the Collection Development team (Sept. 2001 – June 2002) and continue to be a member of the committee to acquire materials for the Godine Library. Created an acquisitions list of reference materials for purchase. Represented the Godine Library on MCCLPHEI (Sept. 2001 – Apr. 2002) and assisted the Interim Director with budgetary conflicts resulting from MCCLPHEI issues. Presented by informational literacy proposal paper “Bridging the Gap: informational literacy at an art and design college” at the 2004 AICAD conference in Baltimore, MD.

American International College, Shea Library, Springfield, Massachusetts

Reference/Interlibrary Loan Librarian

Responsible for assisting students, staff, and faculty with research and assisting students in finding appropriate materials for class assignments. Developed research guides and taught bibliographic sessions for freshman and upper-level students.  I have worked with students on an individual basis to develop research strategies for papers and projects. The Reference/Public Services Librarian reviewed and chose both print and electronic materials for the reference collection.  Assisted with collection development for the general library collection.  Responsible for all aspects of the Interlibrary Loan procedure for the Library.  Supervised student workers in the packaging and shipping of loan items.  During the summer of 1999, I  redesigned and increased dramatically the size of the library web page.  Included information for both students and faculty and made the electronic resources of the library available to students and faculty with remote access.  Worked with other professionals in the library to develop a collection development policy.  Participated in campus-wide task forces on technology and distance education.  I worked with other network librarians on an ILL task force to develop policies and procedures for our network. 

February, 1999 – December, 2000

Indiana University Law School Library, Circulation Department, Bloomington, Indiana

Circulation Assistant and Interlibrary Loan Assistant

From September - November 1997:  Utilized NOTIS to circulate materials, place holds, and recalls, and to process reserve materials and overdue notices. This involves entering materials such as pamphlets, library volumes, private volumes, and videotapes. Assist with searching for interlibrary loan materials online.

From November 1997 - June 1998: Responsible for all lending aspects of interlibrary loan: retrieve and update OCLC records; process paperwork and keep statistics; pack and shipped library materials. Manage incoming borrowed materials: retrieve and update OCLC records; utilize NOTIS to create item records and circulate ILL materials; return loans to lending libraries.  Processed overdue notices and renewals. This position requires a working knowledge of OCLC and its interlibrary loan component PRISM, the library automation program NOTIS, and the Law Library's interlibrary loan policies.

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, Office of the Registrar, Washington, D.C.

Collections Management Assistant

Organized a backlog of material into a working, logical system for the Administrative Office and Registrar. Assisted with an exhibition traveling to Japan in 1994 including preparing and retrieving graphics, preparing objects for shipment and customs procedures, and comparing exhibition script with designs for discrepancies.  Performed general office functions and responded to departmental inquiries.

August 1993 - August 1994

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American Art, Director's Office, Washington, D.C.

Administrative Assistant

Gathered information on artists for Director's lecture. Assisted with Director's correspondence, performed general office functions, and answered inquiries. Organized mailings to American Art Journal recipients and museum forum members, and assisted with events involving museum personnel and commissioners.

July 1992 - July 1993