Member Spotlight - Dr. Pamela Thomas
June 5, 2023
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This week's member spotlight is on Dr. Pamela Thomas. Pamela serves on the ILA Awards Committee, and works at Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS) as the Bibliographic Grant Manager for the Cataloging Maintenance Center (CMC). We asked Pamela to tell us a little about herself and answer a few professional and amusing questions. Continue reading to find out more about Pamela.
A little background on Pamela
I grew up in an unserved area, and it still is, so my exposure to books was my parents’ vast library collection (purchased at garage sales or library sales), which is when I started reading above my grade level. When I started school, I had access to my school library, and in 7th grade, the bookmobile (I loved those orange-bound biographies—I didn’t care who the biography was about, I read it).
I earned my associate’s degree in English and secondary education, then my bachelor’s degree in English. What’s a girl to do with an English degree who decided she didn’t want to teach? Become a nanny, of course! I lived in Lexington, Mass., for two years, then returned home and enrolled in the MLS program at Northern Illinois University (NIU), and the rest is history.
I have been a cataloger at most of my professional positions in public, academic, and special libraries. Now, I work at Illinois Heartland Library System as the Bibliographic Grant Manager for the Cataloging Maintenance Center. I am also the mother of two sons, Nathan and Jackson, and the owner of a Shiba Inu, Zander (or does he own me?).
How did you get your start in libraries?
While working as a nanny, I decided that earning a library degree and working as a children’s librarian would be my next career move. Since I lived in Mass., I looked at the MLS program at Simmons College, but it was rather expensive. I decided it was time to move back to Illinois (in-state tuition) and applied at NIU and was accepted into their program.
My goal was to become a children’s librarian, but when I took my first cataloging class, I was hooked. Careers in technical services are not well-publicized—when you enter a library, you see the person at the circulation desk, or reference desk, the children’s librarian, and you are aware that there is a library director (often in a back office), but you don’t really know about other job roles—Interlibrary Loan, cataloger, and other technical services staff—processing materials, binding and mending, etc.).
While attending NIU, I worked part-time as a back-up reference librarian for the Alliance Library System (ALS), but our office was in the Bradley University Library. After I graduated, I was hired as the Adult Fiction/Children’s Materials Cataloger, and I’ve been going strong ever since!
Best advice you've received since starting your career in libraries?
Network. You never know who can either be a reference or put you in touch with a job.
Any advice to newcomers working in libraries?
Find your passion. I know that people are not staying in the same job for their entire career, but if you truly find something you love doing, then you can probably find a similar job elsewhere. Don’t stay at a job if you are miserable—it’s just not worth it!
When and why did you become a member of ILA?
I became a member in 2013 because I wanted to network with my peers.
How has being a member of ILA helped you professionally?
Since working at IHLS, I have been a member (2020-22) and chair (2021-22) of the ILA Reporter Advisory Committee, a member of the ILA Awards Committee (2022-24), and I have co-presented several times at the ILA Annual Conference.
What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
I have two. First, I helped move the Library Technical Assistant (LTA) program at Illinois Central College (ICC) from face-to-face to online.
Second, I created the first cataloging courses offered by IHLS/Cataloging Maintenance Center on Moodle. The CMC offers free cataloging of local authors, history, genealogy, and special collections. The CMC also offers free training (RDA Book Training; RDA for Video and Audio Recordings Training; Subject Analysis; and Cataloging 3D Objects, Kits, and Realia, all taught by me; and Cataloging Basics taught by Eric McKinney).
We also offer monthly webinars, Online with the CMC, on the 2nd Thursday of each month (August-May) at 10 a.m. on cataloging-related topics. Starting this fall, we will be offering two-week, focus-on cataloging courses in Moodle. More information about that will be forthcoming! The CMC cataloging courses and Online with the CMC webinars can be found in L2.
Hardcover, paperback, e-reader, audiobook, or all?
Audiobook—my near vision is not what it used to be, so listening to audiobooks is my jam—and I can multitask while listening to an audiobook.
Favorite author?
I have too many. My favorite genre is detective and mystery fiction—I love a dead body or two! My favorite narrator is Scott Brick.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, what five books would you bring with you to pass the time until being rescued?
- The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath,
- The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank,
- The Stand by Stephen King,
- A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
- The Sue Grafton collection, A-Y.
My deserted island has Wi-Fi and electricity, and I will have my iPad and iPhone with me.
Cat or Dog?
Dog
Favorite film, podcast, or television show?
This is another tough one—I watch a lot of dubbed French, Swedish, and Italian mystery television shows. My favorite film is 13 Going on 30—Jennifer Garner, Razzles, and Mark Ruffalo, what more do you need?
One person you would like to meet, dead or alive why?
Thomas Jefferson. I am a total fan girl. I want to soak in the atmosphere of Monticello and his personal library. I would also like to talk with him and discuss books and his thoughts on everything—not politics, but farming, gardening, philosophy, and architecture.
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